Biltmore Tuxedos of Ridgewood

Order it from Biltmore Tuxedos, pick it up, and then bring it back after the graduation party was over. This was and remains the routine for male graduates of RHS. I'm not sure what they did before this store appeared in downtown, but they sure did make it easy for us.

The store stands where it always has for the last 40 years on Ridgewood Avenue. They must be doing something right.

I do remember the shoes being made of cardboard or something similar. They likely didn't want anybody to feel too comfortable in this ensemble, and then decide to keep it. The tuxedo certainly did make us look sharp on Graduation Day. I can't imagine what the turnout would have been like if our attire had been left up to us men. Correct that, I can imagine and it makes me laugh as it would have been awful. ;-)

Mother's Day

I sent her a gift despite my Mom's protests about it being a phony holiday. She liked the book I sent her written by Judy Johnson. Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

The Common Core Controversy

The Common Core is a federally approved (but not nationally mandated) set of standards that most states, including New York, have adopted.  According to the web site http://www.corestandards.org/what-parents-should-know/:

"The standards are designed to build upon the most advanced current thinking about preparing all students for success in college, career, and life. This will result in moving even the best state standards to the next level. In fact, since this work began, there has been an explicit agreement that no state would lower its standards. The standards were informed by the best in the country, the highest international standards, and evidence and expertise about educational outcomes. We need college- and career-ready standards because even in high‐performing states, students are graduating and passing all the required tests but still need remediation in their post-secondary work."

I don't recall ever having a teacher who would "teach to the test" or place more emphasis on standardized tests than what was taught throughout the year. I certainly recall the Iowa Tests and how these would take up entire days of our time. Though when they were over they were largely forgotten. Maybe I am just lucky to remember it that way now.

I do remember that we were all glad when the tests were over, including our teachers. Though in those days our teachers were not being judged on how well we did on the standardized tests. Even a child would have understood that it wouldn't be fair to rate a teacher on a test they had nothing to do with creating. Now I suppose the children understand they are being taught in a manner that will improve their test scores and help their teachers keep their jobs. Hopefully, they don't realize this too soon because it would be a shame to teach cynicism in our schools when it is so easily learned on the streets and in their homes.