B-Rad

Bradley's birthday was a [few] week[s] ago.

I'm a good mom, I'm just not good at timely postings.

In fact, it just so happens that is birthday was on TAKS day. Let me quickly explain to you what TAKS is. TAKS is the state's standardized tests. It's a day where the school turns into a nazi camp. Don't believe me? Here are some of the rules:

• no parents/volunteers allowed on campus
• students are only allowed to read after they've completed their test (even if they're done by 10am) - no drawing, coloring, writing, sleeping....
• teachers aren't allowed to sit - not kidding
• students eat in their classroom (to avoid hallway noise and/or cafeteria chatter)
• students aren't allowed to go to specials classes (PE, Art, Music) to avoid excess noise in the hallways
• absolutely no recess (they tried whisper recess last year unsuccessfully - not kidding, again)
• students are escorted to and from the restrooms
• federal prison guards roam the halls freely

Okay, so maybe that last one is made up. But seriously, it gets a little crazy strict. The thing is, students aren't tested until the 3rd grade. This makes the school day ultimately pointless for all the un-tested students. Let's just say lots of movies get watched that day.

Not that I need an excuse to let my son stay home (ya, we're back to Bradley now) but there was no way I was making him go to school on his birthday when all these rules were being implemented. That would just be lame.

So we went bowling instead. Way cool. Way not lame. Right?

Actually we had a blast. Bradley killed me in the first game. The wii evidently has taught him a little somethin'.