This week, like many others across the country, my kids are doing their school state testing. The timing is not great, as it’s the first week back after spring break, but whaddya do? Across America, states have made standardized testing the idol at which they worship and plan their school year around. School state testing is so important that many school districts now start school earlier than ever in August and end earlier than ever in May. They start earlier to give teachers more time to “teach to the test” – every school week they can get in before April counts. And they end earlier because after the tests are done, what REALLY is the point? No more learning needs to be done, apparently.