GREENFIELD — At the recommendation of the Greenfield Education Association and those who spoke during its meeting Wednesday, the School Committee voted unanimously to sign a resolution asking the state to forgo MCAS testing this year.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, some speakers asked how anyone could expect students to concentrate and study during a pandemic, while also participating in high-stakes testing. Furthermore, many said they believe this is not the year to expect the results to be reliable, “valid or useful.”

Greenfield resident Doug Selwyn, author of “All Children Are All Our Children,” argued the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) tests are “worthless and annoying.” He said they make students feel like failures, especially those whose first language is not English.

“It’s toxic,” he said. “Biased for students of color and students with learning challenges. There’s no evidence it improves teaching or learning.”

He said at this time, while students and teachers are struggling through a pandemic, MCAS can only hurt and traumatize.

Garrett O’Brien, a teacher at Greenfield High School and member of the Greenfield Education Association, said the Greenfield School Department needs to “preserve precious learning time” as opposed to putting efforts into MCAS testing.

“It’s unwise and unnecessary to subject students to the stress,” he said.

Greenfield resident Paul Jablon called MCAS testing “unkind and anxiety-producing,” stealing hundreds of hours from teachers who want to teach, while Susan Worgaftik, also of Greenfield, spoke on behalf of an anonymous teacher who said it “crushes students’ self-esteem.”

“It’s too high-stakes when school hasn’t been consistent for the past year,” Worgaftik said. “The test causes too much stress.”

Likewise, Greenfield resident Jayme Winell said she supports a moratorium on MCAS testing, noting that to try to administer the test right now would be a logistical nightmare.

Speaking Wednesday, Michael Sustik read the letter that the Greenfield Education Association submitted to the School Committee requesting it support asking the state to forgo MCAS testing this year.

“This resolution was supported unanimously by both the membership and executive board of the GEA and was approved by the delegates to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees by a vote of 112 to 9 with two abstentions at the MASC annual meeting on Nov. 7,” he read.

Sustik said there are many reasons not to have MCAS testing in Greenfield schools this year, including students’ and proctors’ physical and mental health. The union is also concerned with the loss of direct instruction and the reliability of the test results.

While the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has mandated the test will only last 90 minutes due to the pandemic, the Greenfield Education Association wonders what will become of the many students who have extended testing time or testing support because of their Individual Learning Plans (IEPs).

“We wonder if there is enough available staff to proctor and enough bussing/transport infrastructure to safely bring these students in for multiple sessions of testing,” the union’s letter to the School Committee reads.

The resolution the committee voted to sign asks Gov. Charlie Baker to cancel MCAS testing this year, that students be held harmless for not taking the test and that students’ graduation requirements be determined by local school committees and administrators.

The committee also signed on to a request a moratorium on all high-stakes testing for not only the 2020 to 2021 school year, but for the next three years, so students can benefit from their time being focused on direct instruction.

School Committee members echoed their support for the resolution, with Vice Chair Susan Eckstrom arguing the MCAS test results will not be a “true reflection” of anything except how poorly the last year has gone because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Students don’t need the stress or trauma right now,” member Katie Caron added.

Now that it has been approved, the resolution will be sent to the governor.

Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.