Friday Haiku 1/18/08

Before I get started here, a big hug and good luck to the hostess of this meme! I hope your move to New Town goes well and you have access to the internet again soon!

Happy Haiku Friday!

Well, it is springtime in Texas, and that means, among other things, Standardized Testing Season. Here, we call it the TAKS. My son thinks it stands for Torture All Kids Severely, but it actually stands for Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. The angst for this test, which isn't until March, is already starting. They are already losing other learning time to practice for this thing. Last year, before the third grade math test, they had a Boot Camp that lasted ALL FREAKIN WEEK!!! I can only imagine what this year will bring. So I thought I would express my frustration with you in my favorite form of poetry.

Don't like mine? Don't worry, there's more at Playgroups are No Place for Children.


TAKS testing is soon.
Why do we do this to kids?
Pressure is awful.

No Child Left Behind
Causes all of this nonsense.
What is the point here?

Teaching to the test.
Every teacher denies this.
I don't believe them.

Even in kinder
They are showing the children
How to fill bubbles.

So they pass the test.
Does this mean that they have learned
How to really think?

Passing a state test
Now the most important thing.
So sad for the kids.