That principal needs help - from his or her teachers and the superintendent. It just isn't my style. I know what you mean. The whole state seems to be testing, testing, testing. Deya - Canada has jumped on the testing bandwagon also.
Emotional sickness is a difficult issue for students of all ages.
Beth Bruno - Maybe legislators need to visit the schools that use portfolio assessments in order to see how much richer the information is in them. I usually have one or two criers - but about the end of the first or second week parents come in and say their children are crying about school at home and don't want to go. I try to explain that the child is probably really tired, anxious about what is happening at home, and needs to adjust to the routine. I have even had parents call me at school and ask me to tell the kid he has to come to school TJ - Deya, thanks for the idea, we've been in school for two weeks, but I think that I am still going to send a similar letter. Sandra - A great way for primary teachers to lessen parent anxiety is to invite them to write a letter about their child.