Tampabay.com
JANUARY 06, 2009

Ex-teacher pens anti-FCAT play

B18bAt 47, Steve Bailey of Jacksonville Beach has seen enough to know that he doesn't much care for the FCAT.

He has taught the classes leading up to the test. He has spent some time scoring the tests. Now he has written a play blasting the test.

Bailey bills his two-act comedy, Testing: A Week in the Life of an Ex-Teacher, as "America's first anti-standardized-testing play." And he wants teachers "as well as other disgruntled workers" to know about it.

He's still auditioning actors for some of the smaller roles, in hopes of staging the play on Jan. 30-31 and Feb. 6-7 in Neptune Beach. Teachers with valid school ID get in for half-price. Some of the language is off-color, he warns. (No surprise there. FCAT has already become a four-letter word to so many educators, right?) So don't bring the kids or pets.

Can't make it? No problem. You can still get a chuckle by checking out Bailey's blog or reading the play for free online (free registration required).

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

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Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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