That time of the year is upon us, the time that students and even schools dread. The PSSAs are here and most 5th, 8th, and 11th graders are moaning at the very thought.

The PSSAs or the Pennsylvania System of School Assessments are aptitude tests given to 5th, 8th, and 11th graders. These test students on basic writing and mathematics; something the average student already gets enough of in school. It is safe to say, most students do not want to take this test and many others, not just students, actually agree.

The PSSA's main objective is to collect data on a schools ability to teach its students. Sadly, a major factor is not seen, that is a large margin of error. Smaller schools, with fewer students will base their results for their school district on a few students. This means some schools will receive inadequate money or far too much, creating inequality.

It even gets worse, some republicans want to have PSSAs play a factor in teacher’s salaries. Just because a class does poorly on a PSSA doesn’t mean there was a bad teacher behind it and just because a class did good, doesn’t mean there was a good teacher. Perhaps the most outrageous problem, created by the No Child Left Behind Act, is an absolute requirement for all students to be at a proficient level on the PSSAs by 2014. There is no way 100 percent of all students can be labeled as proficient. No school could possibly obtain that.

Perhaps there is a better way to solve this, rework the entire education distribution process. Give out an equal share to all schools or better yet, do not punish schools with worse grades by giving them less money; it will only make it worse. This competitive process is just plain not fair.

In the end it may be easy to complain about all the negatives about the PSSAs and the No Child Left Behind act, but there is no one left to blame but ourselves.