The Standardized Testing Anthem
Song by Paul W. Hankins, edited by me to fit melody (with apologies to Albert Hammond and John Bettis) Melody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPl0fZ5lK20
(instrumental intro)
Child 1: Each day I sit, Faithfully stay.
Child 2: Hoping we get Somehow to May.
Child 3: I’m in Row One; Hour’s just begun.
Child 4: Another year I’ll be unknown.
Child 5: They took my art; No Band again!
Child 6 : Can’t feel my feet; My butt's in pain.
Child 7: I try and fail — Scores in the mail. There were no gains:
All Children: Give me one test; make it timed If this is all that you think I should be. Put all of the answers right there on the sheet, Conveniently marked A through D. Give me one test; make it timed When I’m racing with Timothy. There isn’t one moment to spare - Let me see… Is it B? Or is it D?
Child 9: Wanted to be The very best.
Child 10: No place for me Though on this test.
Child 11: No time for dreams.
Child 12: ‘Cause now it seems…
Child 13: It’s in my hands:
All Children: Give me one test; make it timed. Please rank Johnny and Sally and me. Make big, over-sized banners with all of our scores. And post them for our parents to see. Give me one test; make it timed. Is this how we want it to be? Our moments spent bubbled away Can’t they see… Misery? This travesty? AWWWWW! We’re children — for just short time. Please, someone! Help us use that time! Let us shine! Give us better use of time - We’re more than the data lets us be. Because all of our future’s a school year away; We're part of our communities. It’s our moment — yours and mine — We aren't testing entities! With this test-free moment in time We will be We will be All we could be! YEAH! We will be All we could be!
