To those of you who regularly read the comments on this blog, you will frequently encounter pithy, funny, learned comments by reader KrazyTA. He is as likely to quote a Greek philosopher as to quote Groucho Marx. And he constantly reminds us to laugh.
Here is his latest, in which he explains the mysterious acronym TAGO, first written here by Señor Swacker. .
“Special Educator NY: all credit to Duane Swacker—
T[hat’s]AG[ood]O[ne]!
😎
And to the most esteemed SomeDAM Poet:
I am surprised that you don’t seem to know the Secretary of Education’s favorite song.
According to the usual unconfirmed rumors, it is pasted on the ceiling of his DOE office. So on those frequent occasions when he is resting from his tiresome toiling on behalf of “the kids” he can recite the “Song of Myself.” [Note: he, er, “borrowed” without attribution the title—as educrats are wont to do with many things on their resumés—from Walt Whitman, just as he, er, borrowed the words and tune to the song. But let’s leave that for another occasion…]
“I could wile away the hours
Conferrin’ with the flowers
Consultin’ with the rain
And my head I’d be scratchin’
While my thoughts were busy hatchin’
If I only had a brain.”
Wow! Talk about not seeking refuge in the unexamined life! Socrates—we’ve got a live one!
😧
The only catch: he hasn’t told his speechwriters.
*But not to worry: they already know. That’s why in his speeches over the last two years he is steadfastly for & steadfastly against & steadfastly somewhat for/somewhat against high-stakes standardized testing.
Rheeally! In a Johnsonally sort of way…*
😏
Thank you KTA for reminding us to laugh.
TAGO❢ TAGO❢
How about this for the theme song of the Quixotic Quest Bandwagon to rid the world of standardized testing:
Dang, that wasn’t the one I wanted how about this:
And he seems to have a big heart:)
And with laser-like intensity…
How about TFA standing for Timeto Fly Away! Wouldn’t that be AGO (a good one)… yes to dream that Teach For America were a thing of the past and Wendy Kopp got on her magic broom and flew off to find a far far far away land ?????
Yes, KTA is not only an AGO (thanks artseagal-which I still haven’t figured out if that is your name or it means something like artsy gal or art/sea gal) but an AGrO (no, not an EGO, that’s a term reserved for edudeformers)
I would be remiss if I didn’t do a Paul Harvey and tell “the rest of the story”.
Apropos should also be given to Joanna Best for helping me to realize that I am AI (even though I refused her advice to “get some help”-ha ha).
I hate it when I come across an unattributed acronym, which, unfortunately are quite common in everyday educational discourse. I’ve had to ask many times what “X” acronym stands for as I haven’t been able to figure them out. After getting a response (thanks to all, especially other readers who have picked up the slack for the original acronym poster) I’ve usually said to myself “you dummy how couldn’t you have figured out that one.
As part of my AI therapy I was advised to start making up acronyms and that is where the TAGO comes from. As PH (and no that’s not an acronym but someone’s initials) would say “and that’s the rest of the story.”
ah there it is.
I put a reaction below because I knew I should be mentioned somewhere.
Thank you Duane.
I don’t comment as often as I used to because I’m busy.
Aim Higher Now, NC.
But thanks for including me. I was feeling rejected.
Also, the only help I advised was prayer and you wanted N.O.T.
🙂 (none of that)
So, Duncan is the Scare Crow?
I’ll buy that (though he’s certainly no Ray Bolger)
That leaves quite a few roles to cast:
here are my suggestions
The Wizard of Ads (and Fads): Bill Gates
Cowardly Lion: Obama
Tin Man: David Coleman
Dorothy: America’s teachers, trying to get back to Kansas (ie, reality)
Munchkins: America’s school children
Good Witch of the North (Diane Ravitch, Moshe Adler, Audrey Amrein-Beardsley, Mercedes Schneider, members of American Statistical Association, or other statistical and educational experts who have tried to bring some sanity to the Emerald City and get Dorothy back to Kansas
WWoW: Michelle Rhee (“I’ll get your school, my pretty..and your little bus too”
Flying monkeys: the folks who put together the teacher VAMS, Common Core, standardized testing and other junk (if you recall, there were a lot of flying monkeys and they all looked the same)
Witch’s Castle Guard — singing “tenure-heave-ho” (Campbell Brown, who,being the adversatile actress that she is, also played a lot of parts (76 of them) in The Music Man)
Feel free to weigh in.if you think I have messed up the casting in any way — eg, left anyone out of the flock (is that the right word?) of flying monkeys. Also, I’m not really sure who should play Toto.
There was a video a while back that had all the characters assigned like this.
Being a WoOz fan, I think you are spot on there, SomeDAM Poet. Clever. I especially like the Tin Man casting. We need an Auntie Em and Uncle Henry. Possibly caring parents?
Also Duane, I do not know what AI stands for. I am stuck on LOL….is is lots of laughs or laughing out loud? So much room for interpretation.
Here’s hoping something as simple as pouring water will melt the WWoW!
Janet,
You’re probably certified AI!
Acronym Impaired, that is.
Duane,
I thought you were undergoing Artificial Intelligence therapy.
That sounded pretty serious (implant of a chip in your brain?)
I think she may already have melted.
Maybe Dorothy can retrieveher broom to help clean up the mess that she and the flying monkeys have made.
either that or maybe get the Cat and the Hat with his cleanup mobile (sorry for mixing my stories)
I think Bonnie Cunard Margolin is perfect for “Auntie M”, though there are millions of other caring parents who would also do the role proud
OK, now. . .just because I’m a southerner does not mean I should be ignored on this subject.
I believe it was within exchanges between Senor Swacker and myself that the whole acronym issue came about.
Gee. . .talk about a lack of southern hospitality. I feel very invisible.
Slightly sad.
I guess southern girls don’t matter in the big picture.
😦
oh nevermind.
Swacker acknowledged me.
No longer the lonely girl crying in the corner. I’m part of the group! yay!
T.E.S.
(that’s exciting stuff)
Won’t ever forget ya, Joanna!