This is why we cannot let assessment fever dwarf Critical Thinking Skills!

I can only hope that the following story gets picked-up by the AP and spun out every news sources in the United States.  (It won't, I know, wishful thinking.)

Clearly the students lacked the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate their way through Delaware.  They also made several poor judgments.  I'm certainly glad these six are safe and were rescued quickly. 

But, this event shines the light on a very dark place - the obsession with assessments that has decreased the overall quality and quantity of classroom instruction - that has forced our many educators into a cave!  Watch out for the stalactites and stalagmites.  I think these kids walked blindly into several!

Decision to play hooky

gets 6 in deeper water

River rescuers called to retrieve stranded students