Submitted by El Cid, Jan 17, 2008 10:00

While I agree with the writer that relentless test prep is not the core reason for education, the schools will be blamed if students do not show up. The Dept. of Education will blame teachers for not 'inspiring' students to love the tests. After all, teachers should inspire students, no? Schools that did not have a certain percentage of students showing up would be threatened with closure. Since no one seems to be accountable for all the overcrowding resulting from the current round of closures (see yesterday's New York Times article about Richmond Hill High School in Queens: built for 1800 students, serving 3600), more closings would inevitably occur. And the burden of meeting the needs of all these students in chaotic, inadequate, poorly maintained facilities would fall on the teachers (Just inspire your students!), a greater percentage of whom are under-experienced and (within 5 years of starting in NYC) on their way to jobs in better paying, less dysfunctional suburbs.

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