You're really missing out if you only look at the American menu. The not-so-secret Szechuan menu is where the best menu items are hiding. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water…
The Szechuan menu isn't secret, it's just something you have to specifically request.
Don't forget Yuri at the fish counter! He is the single best fishmonger in Tucson and his counter was what I missed most over that long year of reconstruction.
Another new and well-worth-trying taqueria on Campbell is up on Campbell and Ft Lowell. It's called Taqueria Pueblito and is inexpensive and delicious. Finally, good Mexican food on the North Side!
I commend those parents who are opting out. The testing culture has been entirely driven by politics and is harmful to students and harmful to public education.
Arizona's school letter grade system is almost 100% based on AIMS. Take a look at the map for Tucson at http://www10.ade.az.gov/reportcard/ and you can get a quick look at achievement on the exam. In mid-town and South Tucson there are lots of Cs and Ds and a smattering of As. As you escape into Oro Valley, the foothills, and the East Side it's almost entirely As and Bs. Clearly AIMS is doing a better job evaluating family income than educational achievement.
It is not the fault of the district that this is happening. From the district superintendent down to the teachers everyone is doing what is required by law. Many of them dislike it as much as anyone. I cannot ask them to risk their careers by breaking the law.
Speaking to our legislature is exactly what needs to happen. The game is not rigged. Parents and educators need to organize, opt-out, and speak out. We need to write letters, make phone calls, and advocate for ourselves. The government belongs to us and we can bring about change.
One thing anyone can do today is to visit the Network for Public Education at http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org and print and mail their call for Congressional hearings on the misuse of overuse of standardized tests. We are many and together we can make our schools whatever we want them to be.
It seems like enough parents are opting out for TUSD to notice. The following letter was distributed to the students at my daughter's school today. http://www.zackswagon.com/random/TUSDAIMSL…
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The Szechuan menu isn't secret, it's just something you have to specifically request.
Arizona's school letter grade system is almost 100% based on AIMS. Take a look at the map for Tucson at http://www10.ade.az.gov/reportcard/ and you can get a quick look at achievement on the exam. In mid-town and South Tucson there are lots of Cs and Ds and a smattering of As. As you escape into Oro Valley, the foothills, and the East Side it's almost entirely As and Bs. Clearly AIMS is doing a better job evaluating family income than educational achievement.
Let's keep the opt-out sentiment growing. Check out these two sites for more info:
http://www.fairtest.org
http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org
Speaking to our legislature is exactly what needs to happen. The game is not rigged. Parents and educators need to organize, opt-out, and speak out. We need to write letters, make phone calls, and advocate for ourselves. The government belongs to us and we can bring about change.
One thing anyone can do today is to visit the Network for Public Education at http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org and print and mail their call for Congressional hearings on the misuse of overuse of standardized tests. We are many and together we can make our schools whatever we want them to be.
http://www.zackswagon.com/random/TUSDAIMSL…
The letter refers to an AZ Attorney General opinion from 1997 but the opinion was not attached so I have dug it out:
http://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/cdm/ref/coll…
Interesting stuff here.