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?"

--"The younger SD went into a screaming/crying fit. I asked them both to leave the barn because the older could have easily given her the broom and the younger didn't have to make such a fuss. "-- I'd likely be annoyed little sister is to get her own way and that I'm expected to give it to her so she won't cry/fuss/whine too. Personally I would have handed each child a broom and said 'here, this is the one you are using today'...since that was not first thing done, secondly I would not have the idea that 8 yr old should give in to 6 yr old just to shut her up. In my opinion the only 4, 5, 6 only plays part in this when it comes to Dad giving these kids excuses. From what was posted it might be a bit of younger sister has learned how to manipulate you/Dad/sister into getting what she wants. And the attitude of 'older could have easily of given younger' may just be feeding the tirades of the younger child. With younger child tossing hissies and getting her way, if I were her 2 yr older sister I'd likely think I just might try that method too. Hey, works for little sister. It could also be building strong resentment between the girls. I'd be mad if I had to give into somebody to shut them up. This six yr old does not get away with this at school you can bet on that. A soon as she would fit over someone having what she wanted, the teacher's attitude would not be 'oh ok, kid give the crying/whining little girl what she wants to shut her up'. I think prehaps Dad and you need to sit these girls down and have a talk. What is occuring is unacceptable. Should not matter if it is you tending the kids for the day, just Dad or the two of you together. Dad is wrong to excuse behavior. Bad lesson to teach a kid. You are wrong in thinking oldest should cave to smallers hissies. It is hard to only have the girls every other weekend but sharing, taking turns, listening to rules and following them should be expected ...it's not optional. Whether it is you or Dad, when you tell them they can not act this way around around animals they need to know exactly why. Not just are they not listening and being naughty, they are changing getting kicked, getting you kicked, hurting the horses blah blah. It's not going to matter if these girls 'are only 4, 5, 6' kicked is kicked. My DH is deaf in one ear due to being kicked on the side of the head by a horse (no he was not scaring them or mishandling them, he was flying with them and they got spooked by storm) The age difference should not be a real big factor in that whether you are 23 or 38, when these girls are left in your care for the day, it's not so much (IMO) that you think they are demon spawns, but that they are indeed acting like little demons. You have to get the 'give the younger kid her own way' nipped and nipped immediately. If they both insist on acting like 2 year olds, you might have tried 'fine, you both can go sit on that straw bale and think about your behavior while I finish this'. Alot is going to depend on how the girls are allowed to behavior the other 20something days a month. If they really are 'well behaved' except for when with you...you need to change your tactic in dealing with them. If they think they can run over you, they will. With you being closer to their age than their parents, they may have a tendency to not view you as an authority figure. If so, Dad needs to work on that too. Most 1st and 2nd grade teachers are young 20's these days. Children respect them and listen to them and are disciplined by them on a daily basis.

I would want as little fabric as possible in a kitchen, just because it can get so nasty so fast. Fabric under the sink would catch every drip of food or dishwater when you load your dishwasher. It would get dripped every time you slosh at the sink, flick your hands after washing...or if you ever get a little crazy with the mop bucket not to mention the greasy dust that accumulates in every kitchen...It's really easy to say "I'll just be careful" but real life is a little messy under the best of circumstances even before spills and accidents, pets and children. It's a really cute look, I just don't think it would stay that way for long or without a lot of effort. If you want some visual interest...maybe you could do an accent color or let a child in your life paint some kid art on the door...or a metal insert, or glass...or anything. Just make sure you can clean it!

Irises? I didn't see any Irises. (Goes back to look). oh, never mind. Great pics of some really nice plants. I'd love to see pics of the jungle too. My friends grow Stitch and heard there was a nice one on the recent Hosta Tailgate. They went to check it out and get the details for growing it well. Unfortunately, we didn't get there and I forgot to ask her, but they did send me this pic. Looks like it may be sporting, now cut that out!