There haven't been more shark attacks than usual. There has just been more media coverage of the shark attacks than usual. I will try to see if I can find an article, but I recall the local paper having an article last summer about this but I am not sure if I can find it online. My kids love the beach. We do not go to the beach in the winter (to crowded, to cold, etc.) but I am sure that we will go to the beach at least once during our spring break in April. My oldest son is a little apprehensive because he reads the newspapers. My middle doesn't read that well yet (he's 5) and my baby is still a toddler so he can't really form his own opinion. I will see if I can find something for you. Mommabear

I haven't been able to post for a long time - too busy at work! I thought it was funny that the post was still around. First of all, I have to say (again), that I understand when it is a friend's wedding or whatever, I can choose to not attend. But, being that is was my DAD's retirement party - his one and only - I felt obligated to be there. Also, to whoever said something about being offended because I can't bring my kids to bars b/c they are not 21, that is ridiculous, this doesn't even compare. I will tell you how it turned out. We were out & about in the morning and timed our return to the hotel (we stayed at the hotel that the lunch/party was at) so that our kids would be napping. My DH stayed in the hotel room and I went to the lunch alone - so my DH missed the program and the lunch. To my surprise, my stepsister was there w/ her new baby and my other step sister said to me "we were going to bring the kids, but at the last minute, my MIL volunteered to babysit, so we didn't have to bring them". Hmmmm, doesn't sound like their kids weren't invited. My son woke up w/ about 10 minutes left in the program, so my DH came down and joined us. My kids sat quietly and didn't disrupt anything and all of my dad's friends were happy to see them (since we live 3 hours away, many of them hadn't seen them). Anyway, it all turned out ok, and to those of you who have readily available babysitters, I envy you. This would have been a whole different situation if we had someone to leave our kids with. Believe me, w/ a toddler and an infant, I would be more than happy to go out w/o them, but I also want my DH w/ me!

I want to see an academic paper, like the one I referenced, not ARTICLES collected by an organization that opposes testing. Can you find those? I did a google search and was able to find my article in a few minutes. What would convince me is if you could find an ACTUAL STUDY proving your point. NOT a collection of articles by an organization that exists solely for the purpose of opposing standardized testing. In the attached article the author talks about research saying things that support his view, but does NOT cite the research. No support. What research? Where is it? Why not cite the research? Is it inconclusive? Is there conflicting evidence? Maybe it doesn't exist. We shouldn't give tests because they are SCARY? Well it's also SCARY to go to the dentist, but you know sometimes there are things kids have to do that are SCARY. The author states that testing in 2nd grade is premature, but offers no scholarly evidence that this is so, just his opinion and the opinion of another organization. I would like to see some study done to prove that 2nd grade is premature and to suggest a better age. The author cites the fact that there are differences in the home lives of kids that create differences in acheivment therefore we shouldn't test kids. Ridiculous. Maybe there should be no tests and no evaluations because some of the kids might FEEL BAD if their parents knew they were doing poorly in school. They probably will feel worse when they are 30 and can't get a job because of their poor reading skills, but hey, they felt good when they were 7 and that's what's really important. The ELA is pointed out as a viable alternative. Why is is an either/or proposition? Where is the side by side evaluation? I need scholarly studies and controlled research, not more opinions. The opinion of Fairtest is no more valid than mine. Are there any sites out there that present the case FOR and the case AGAINST side by side? With facts, and studies instead of articles? Articles are interesting, but they are not the same as studies. Mommabear Here is a link that might be useful: Second Grad e Testing Article from Fairtest

The tests were the ITEDs. The article did mention that the tests were used to determine "whether students get promoted and whether teachers and principals are sanctioned", but I did not see it mention that these tests were used to determine if the school would close or not. That might be the case, but it is not in that article. The article didn't mention the economic situation of the children at the schools. Two schools were mentioned in connection to how the instructions were interpreted. A person NOT living in Chicago would not know the economics of the neighborhoods of those schools. The article does say that some of the principals will be reprimanded. How does helping the children cheat (the children may or may not have realized they were cheating) actually help the children? There is a lot riding on a lot of tests and test like activities, driving test, bar exam, taxes. Certainly cheating happens in all of those circumstances. Is society served by ignoring the cheating if there is "ALOT riding on the results?"