A Song for Students: 'Not on the Test'
For students out there who may be stressed out, here's a lullaby for our times. "Not on the Test" was written by John Forster and Tom Chapin. It is performed by Tom Chapin.
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RENEE MONTAGNE, host:
Singer/songwriter Tom Chapin has a gentle lullaby for students across the country who get stressed out about all these standardized tests they have to take.
(Soundbite of song “Not on the Test”)
MONTAGNE: So, for any students out there who may be stressed out, here's the lullaby, a lullaby for our times.
(Soundbite of song “Not on the Test”)
Mr. TOM CHAPIN (Musician)): (Singing) Go on to sleep now, there greater mind. The test is tomorrow but you'll do just fine. It's reading and math, forget all the rest, you don't need to know what is not on the test.
Each box that you mark on each test that you take, remember your teachers, they're jobs are at stake. Your score is their score but don't get all stressed, they'd never teach anything not on the test. Sleep, sleep, and as you progress, you'll learn there's a lot that is not on the test.
Debate is a skill that is useful to know, unless you're in Congress or talk radio, where shouting and spouting and spewing are blessed, ‘cause rational discourse was not on the test.
Thinking is important, it's good to know how. And someday you'll learn, to but someday is not now. Go on to sleep now, you need your rest. Don't think about thinking, it's not on the test.
MONTAGNE: Yes, the title is “Not on the Test.” It was written by Tom Chapin and John Forster, and performed by Tom Chapin.
(Soundbite of music)
MONTAGNE: This is NPR News.
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