Why I will not teach to the test

The article argues for more in depth teaching than the shallow teaching that, they accuse, the state states engender.  I find this to be true in my limited experience. As a music teacher I have some experience with standardized tests but not nearly to the degree of class room teachers. The article, I believe accurately criticizes multi choice tests declaring that essay questions or writing require more critical thinking from the students and are a better evaluator. It is an odd contradiction that she points to in California where the exit exam for high school requires an "on demand essay" yet has the essay count for so little of the over all grade that it can be ignored entirely. However, it is good that California at least requires this. I hope that the education system moves to a more imaginative evaluative process in the future and that voices like this writer are included in the dialogue.