testing, 1,2,3 testing

If you wondered how a teacher feels about the current atmosphere of high stakes testing...this pretty much sums it up...listen here. For those that don't want to wait for the download- here are the lyrics:

Not On The Test by John Forster & Tom Chapin© 2007 Limousine Music Co. & The Last Music Co. (ASCAP)

Go on to sleep now, third grader of mine.

The test is tomorrow but you'll do just
fine.It's reading and math.
Forget all the rest.You don't need to know what is
not on the test.
Each
box that you mark on each test that you take,Remember
your teachers. Their
jobs are at stake.Your score is their score, but don't get
all
stressed.They'd never teach anything not on the test.
The School Board is
faced with no child left behindWith rules but no funding, they're caught in
a
bind.So music and art and the things you love bestAre not in your school
'cause
they're not on the test.
Sleep, sleep, and as you progressYou'll
learn
there's a lot that is not on the test.
Debate is a skill that is
useful to
know,Unless you're in Congress or talk radio,Where shouting and
spouting and
spewing are blessed'Cause rational discourse was not on the
test.
Thinking's
important. It's good to know how.And someday you'll
learn to, but someday's not
now.Go on to sleep, now. You need your
rest.Don't think about thinking. It's not
on the test.