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After that time everyone relaxes and waits for the results that generally arrive in May. Is less work done during that time? No, it's a different kind of work. Those are the two months in which the teacher get to teach the kids instead of teach how to take the test.
And no, school has not started earlier in Ohio because of the tests, but because of football playoffs in November. Football is the most important element is setting the school calendar. Since it is necessary to get in ten games before playoffs, and since playoffs need to occur before the snow flies; school must begin about two weeks before Labor Day.
There is nothing quite like a week of two of 90 degree weather in August or September in an unairconditioned classroom that has no window screens. Yellow jackets are zooming around everywhere terrorizing the kids. Students get sips of water two or three times a day at the drinking fountain. Imagine a hundred kids lined up after recess waiting for their turn.
I forgot another element of the hot classroom. Fans! Turn one on and watch papers go flying across the room. Then quickly issue the command that stops five or six kids from gang tackling the papers. If you are lucky, no one comes up crying.
Thank you for this post. I just remembered again why I'm so glad to be retired.
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