School Testing

I went over my grandson's English homework (can I still call it "English?) last night.  I almost laughed, but it was too serious.  I assume the work reflected what will be on the test, the state test.  What teacher, whose evaluation depends on the results of the test, wouldn't teach to the test?  It was more than a little ridiculous....

There were action verbs and linking verbs and helping verbs and verbs that were two of the above.  Some of the verbs fit more than one category....  OK, I understand knowing tenses--past, present, future--but all these types of verbs, why?  I don't need to know how a computer works to use one.  I don't need to know how a car works to drive one.  I would think that actual writing, using verbs instead of identifiying "helping verbs" or "linking verbs" would be better learning.  Ah, but what's on the test?

I guess it's like the NFL and receptions--it's a process.