Unfair stress

Here in the state of Texas we have the TAKS test that our public school children have to take. All year it stays on the minds of students, teachers and parents alike. My BFF is a fifth grade teacher and it is a constant stresser for her throughout the year to make sure she has taught and prepared each of her students to be successful at this test. This week the scores were returned to the students and she was sharing with me what an emotional rollercoaster the day was. She said there was so much crying out of relief and dissapointment. Her fifth grade students were so stressed about this test that several of those that passed cried as hard as those that did not. I hate that our government would place so much undue pressure on these babies to pass a test that may or may not indicate their educational level. It was yet another reminder as to why we do what we do. I believe in the accountability as well as evaluating students work, but there has to be a better way.