Donald Beattie of Winthrop, ME Thanks for the update Matt. My belief now as it was from the outset of the consolidation effort and the NCLB legislation/learning results is that instead of an aborted assessment/curriculum update plan at DOE, professional development monies should be poured into the schools appropriately to improve learning and teaching at the 'local' level and that it is always the extraordinary teacher/leader/educator/legislator/governing persons who can see that rather than prescribing thing which are often peripheral to what a quality education is in our school without these props. And I am one who did the same thing with learning results back in the early 1970s in MA. What works is a teacher who motivates kids to yearn to learn, eh? If they are quality to begin with and have the tools to improve/excel then our Maine teachers will get the results kids/parents need. And as far as super parents are concerned/meaning parents who just want an in the box type of education for their kids, well get with it and start asking for inner direction education rather than peripheral 'standards' so that their kid can go out and make money. If that money were spent on school and not war and the Bush type collateral, then maybe no child would be left behind even with in the box educational standarse, eh? Don Beattie in Winthrop, ME. If anyone is inquisitive enough to read this and between the lines, I'd be happy to explain what the out of the box approach to education is and how it might improve learning and teaching in Maine. But you can believe no one but Matt will read this, chuckle.report abuse