All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Daniel Pinkwater, an icon among geek readers, has always said that his audience is smart. This week he heard from several fans in New York State, who were surprised to find an excerpt from his novel Borgel on the state's English Language Arts test for 8th graders.
At least, it purported to be an excerpt – actually, as several astute kids noted, it was subtly but significantly altered. But mostly, they wanted to know, what were the right answers? And Mr. Pinkwater, being ever available to his adoring fans through his website's P-Zone "Talk to DP Forum," wisely went right to the source.
Here's an excerpt from the exchange:
Pinkwater's reply began:
Although he didn't venture a guess as to what the test-writers might have been thinking, he did go on to supply the passage in its original form.
Other writers have gone public about the changes made to their work as used by testmakers – changes that sometimes twisted the original meaning in damaging ways. But Pinkwater's response to the students about the nonsensical ways in which the test company changed his already ridiculous story is probably the best illustration of why standardized tests measure what matters least.
And not to slight students in other states: In 2010, someone set up a Facebook page in which the story of the Pineapple and its Sleeves could be discussed at length.
What do you think: Does great absurdist kidlit make for great test questions?
