While going through the kid’s school papers - that unfunded mandated rears its ugly head again

So now we’ve returned to that annual event of - ahem - practicing for the state’s standardized tests which will, among other things, waste enormous amounts of time and money.  I’ve mentioned before that I’m all for some sort of accountability.  It’s just that I think it’s misplaced right now. 

Now the children have to slog through mind-numbing hours of these practice tests once again.  Our tax dollars at work! Hooray!  I and quite a few other parents here in my town would love a chance to change this thing. But we can’t. This is a federal mandate that’s enforced by the state government.  So our Board of Education’s hands are tied.

Oh - and apparently this program doesn’t work anyway.