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E.2. Inappropriate Topics

Some of these topics may be perfectly acceptable in other contexts, but do not belong in a state test. A basal reader, for example, may contain a story about a child dealing with death; but in such an instance, the teacher has a chance to prepare students before they read the selection, and students have the opportunity to talk through their reactions. No such opportunities are available in a testing situation, so we must be more circumspect in our topic selection.

In general, avoid these topics:

Beer, liquor, or drugs
Cancer and other diseases
Catastrophes
Children dealing with serious issues
Dancing
Death
Evolution
Expensive gifts, vacations, prizes
Gambling
Halloween
Homes with swimming pools
Junk food
Magic
Monsters
Movies
New Age philosophies
Nuclear weapons
Parapsychology
Politics
Religion
Religious holidays
Sex
Slavery
Tobacco
Violence
War and bloodshed
Weapons
Witchcraft and sorcery

Evolution again. There’s a reason why they included evolution. This is political.