*Reuters profiled the Seattle teachers’ rebellion against standardized testing central to the so-called “Accountability Movement.” Teachers at the city’s Garfield High School “decided in January to boycott the multiple-choice Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test, saying the computerized exam is not aligned with the state’s curriculum and produces ‘meaningless results’ upon which they are indirectly evaluated.” The test has been given three times a year since 2009, and is “used in hundreds of school systems throughout Washington state and elsewhere.”
Revolts against high stakes standardized testing have also taken place in Portland, Oregon and Providence, Rhode Island, where “high school students splattered themselves with fake blood and acted like zombies to protest.”
*Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced the creation of “Palestinians only” bus lines from central Israel to the West Bank. Ministry spokespeople told Ynet that the decision is meant to alleviate “congestion felt on bus lines used by Jews in the same areas.” But while Palestinians won’t be forced to ride these lines, several bus drivers told Ynet that those “who choose to travel on the so-called “mixed” lines, will be asked to leave them.”
“’We are not allowed to refuse service and we will not order anyone to get off the bus, but from what we were told, starting next week, there will be checks at the checkpoint, and Palestinians will be asked to board their own buses,’” according to one bus driver.
*For those who want to know how the sequestration cuts might affect them personally, but were too afraid to ask: the Associate Press published a guide.
One cut that I don’t think anyone apart from legislators and their staffers will miss: overseas Congressional delegations. “John Boehner told Republican members in a closed-door meeting that he’s suspending the use of military aircraft for official trips by House members.” There isn’t a violin small enough…
*Jason Russell – the man behind the Kony 2012 video – gave his first print interview since his very public meltdown. “On the one hand, there was Bono saying Jason Russell deserves an Oscar, and Oprah wants to fill stadiums for me, and Ryan Seacrest wants me on American Idol,” he told the Observer, explaining his rapid psychological deterioration after the video went viral. “And on the other, there were people saying, ‘These people think they’re white saviours trying to save Africa’, and ‘the money goes to corrupt places’, and ‘there is a special place in hell for you’.
