"A child's learning is the function more of the characteristics of his classmates than those of the teacher." James Coleman, 1972

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Anthem for High Stakes Testing Era (with apologies to Country Joe McDonald)

To be sung to the tune of “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die” by Country Joe and the Fish (see video below)
Well come on all you teachers and tykes,
Uncle Sam’s made a problem he’s tryin’ to hype,
He got himself some pressure to privatize, 

All the schools in the nation right before our eyes,

So put down your books and grab a #2, 

We've got a whole lot of testin’ to do.



And its 1,2,3 what are we learning for?

Don't ask me I don't have a say, 

It's high stakes testing day,

And its 5,6,7 send in Melinda Gates,

Well there ain’t no time to do your best,

WHOOPEE we've all got more tests.


Well come on Pearson let's move fast,
Your big chance is come at last,

Gotta expose the schools with the lowest scores, 

A little Common Core and we can grow ‘em some more,

And the global economy can only be won, 

With public schools blown to kingdom come.



And its 1,2,3 what are we learning for?

Don't ask me I don't give a damn, 

My school is made for VAM,

And its 5,6,7 send in Melinda Gates,

Well there ain’t no time to do your best,

WHOOPEE we've all got more tests.


Well come on Wall Street do your part,

To fund charter schools without music or art,

Who said public money can’t make us rich,

While pushing our democracy into the ditch,
Just hope and pray that if our plan does bomb 

They’ll blame the white suburban moms.

And its 1,2,3 what are we learning for?

Don't ask me I don't have a say, 

It's high stakes testing day,

And its 5,6,7 send in Melinda Gates,

Well there ain’t no time to do your best,

WHOOPEE we've all got more tests.


Well come on mothers across the USA,

Get your children all set for more testing days,

Come on fathers don't hesitate,

Set your sons down for test prep before its too late, 

Or be the first district in your town, 

To trade your school for a turnaround.



And its 1,2,3 what are we learning for?

Don't ask me I don't have a say, 

It's high stakes testing day,

And its 5,6,7 send in Melinda Gates,

Well there ain’t no time to do your best,


WHOOPEE we've all got more tests.


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