[*winter*]

All of this emphasis on testing comes from No Child Left Behind. Basically the teachers are held responsible if the kids don't pass the standardized test- so some spend much time "teaching" the test instead of traditional teaching.

Now what is wrong with holding teachers accountable? Well...let's say I'm a high school science teacher (which I may be someday). If the kid enters my class with third grade reading skills...only basic math skills...is it my fault he can't grasp DNA replication or chemical reactions?

NCLB or not...kids are still being passed through. Kids are with their families 16 hours a day and in school 8. Not everything that happens in a kids life is at the hands of the teacher. As a society we need to accept there are some horrific people having children (not going to use the word "raising" as it's not applicable here.). Teachers can only do so much. They wind up being villianized by a society that does not appreciate the work ethic or heart of the average teacher.