47 days of stagnation.

On May 1, I took the last PSSA of my life.

Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is the standardized test given to students in 3rd, 5th, 8th and 11th grades throughout the state. The school districts are forced by the No Child Left Behind act to achieve certain standards, and schools are judged on the basis of student’s standardized test scores. Students who are in ESL or learning support are, under the law, made to take the exact same test as other students in their grade.

It is a ridiculous test that students do not take seriously. We are absent from regular classrooms for either testing or training an average of 47 school days, more than one quarter. Constant testing, after-school tutoring and carpal tunnel from answering a million multiple choice questions aggravates school spirit and frustrates everyone in the building.

“Intensive PSSA Training” is accomplished in school and teachers are given an unreasonable amount of work, so their own lives are halted.

Some teachers told me that they want to be able to teach advanced placement courses, but they simply can’t find the time to be certified with PSSAs jumping up sporadically.

It’s not the teachers’ or administration’s or district’s fault; there is not much anyone can do but obey as long as there is the No Child Left Behind Act.

When a new president of the United States comes into office, the past president’s education plan can be completely removed and changed.

In November, it’s crucial that we elect someone opposed to No Child Left Behind, because it’s the only thing we really can do besides protest.

RICHARD MAOPOLSKI

OLD FORGE