There Are No Right Answers

Cooter and I are arguing about what would be the correct answer to this question on his Chapter 26 history study guide:

President Reagan’s “Star Wars” program would have
a. Put weapons in space
b. Increased nuclear weapons production
c. Stopped any attack against the United States

He insists “a.” I say “c,” because the text at no time describes the lasers on ground and in space as “weapons” (I’m trying to find exact duplication of terms). Furthermore, the text specifically says this program is to stop an attack. Young Cooter wisely said, “I don’t care what the book says. The lasers shoot and destroy missiles thus they are a weapon, and ‘c’ says ANY. Any attacks? Maybe, and that’s a big maybe, just the missile ones.” Spoken like a true video gamer.

But my son doesn’t understand that in public education, he is supposed to regurgitate. They don’t have time for a lengthy analysis. I picture the teacher staring at him, then glaring at his defiance and nerve to challenge her red mark on his paper. My son does not do well with most public school teachers, and his “grades” reflect it. He thinks too much. Sigh.

Stoopid damn public school test materials…