"One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest"

When Jeb Bush was Governor of Flor-duh, he decided to revamp the standardized test in schools. Well, we got this test called the F-Cat. It measured nothing. We had nothing to compare it with since no other state gave this test. Oh, we had benchmarks and all that BUT most were absurd. The end result, after about 5 years, was that we got practice FCAT books and in the spring, we began using the practice books. The teachers were responsible for their students so we just taught to the book! I mean, this was our job at stake here. If our students didn't do well, we took the heat. It was part of our evaluation at the end of the year,

So, I'm watching FOX News and a parent is on their holding a pill bottle, indignant because the children had these pill bottles on their desks. The parent asked the teacher what they were and the teacher said something to the effect that it was a pill bottle. The parent was horrified! The teacher went on to explain that it was just candy in the bottle and thought it would be something to help reduce the stress level during the test. Of course, it was JUST CANDY in the bottle. I thought it was a great idea. Well, this parent was just horrified! OMG. r u kiddin me???? Having been a teacher for 20 years in Floor-dah, I thought I had heard it all. Well, I guess NOW I've heard it all. There is so much stressed placed on our kids to succeed, anything to lighten their load should be welcomed! They knew it was candy!! They loved it!

OK. Just my pennies worth. I feel better now.

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