"During the last few years, testing seems to have become the priority. Our computer lab is unavailable for use by regular teachers for almost three months of the year due to testing. My eighth graders are tested in the fall in reading and math then retested in the spring on the same subjects, along with social studies and science.

"The kids are tired of being tested and tested and tested. We continue to try to do more stuff with less and less funding and time. We are also responsible for attendance. Even though we are trying to get kids to school, we get punished when they don't come.

"Teaching is getting harder and harder. We do the best to teach them while we have them but parents may not be at home and may not have to skills to help. We even had to cut school days last year due to lack of funding. It was either close schools or cut teachers and programs, which are already bare bones."

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