When will they ever learn?

Get an honest, current job description from a Texas school teacher and too often it is "teach the tests."

Which is the same direction California schools were traveling back in the '60s during my more formative years there. "Teach the tests" leaves you, eventually, a great tester and lacking in the daily approach. Daily study habits are probably much more important to the growth of young minds and people than the ability to take a test.

You can get sloppy and negligent in daily work, chores and attitude when the eggs are all placed in the testing basket, but education has become a political football here in Texas, so meddle on lawmakers. Your emphasis on the tests might get someone's vote and that, for you, is the real test. That's what it's all about.

Some day, hopefully soon, the political football tide will turn toward balance and quit giving Texas children the shaft. Eventually, they will have to go to work every day and not just show up for a big "test" day every other week, or so.

Don't take my word for it, research it.