ABSTRACT
“Rachel” was attempting vainly to stuff her books, folders, and notebooks into the metal pocket under her desk. Miss Neves had told the students to create a “nice clean space” on their desktops. The instructions that she was about to give would help prepare them for the state test that would occur in four months. The date is a looming presence that all teachers feel—in the lunch-room, in the copy room, in meetings, in articles on the internet. “Hurry up! Get into these kids’ heads! Make it work!”
