This leaves us all in survival mode, doesn’t it, he asked, rhetorically.

In other words, they are made in GWB’s image!

The law is also a metaphor for this age’s inexorable drive toward instant gratification. Pass a law, fail to fund it or to take a hard look at human nature, and pretend you’ve accomplished something.

I thought I was the only one to be so horrified at what has become of education in this country. Both my children are in the midst of their weeks long rounds of standardized tests. I had to calm my 9 year old son down after he was pumped up with anxiety over his upcoming writing test. He was taught to follow some convoluted outline to respond to a writing prompt, and he worried he would not be able to remember all the steps. I had to assure him that the test was not a personal crisis, whatever score he got would not have consequences for him, but the teachers and school worry about the test because they are evaluated based on test scores. Also, that writing did not have to follow a set formula, he should simply write something about what he thought about the prompt and keep writing until time ran out. He did calm down about the test, but I am so tired of the school doing nothing but teach to the test most of the year and then driving the kids crazy with fear as they approach the actual long grind of testing. my gosh, I only spent 3 days taking the bar exam in two states. Parents and others need to keep raising their voices against this testing craze every chance they get.