Since yesterday’s post, I have rethought the way I present articles on Word Scrawl. Since there is so much hurt and unrest in the world, from now on each article will have at least one positive note in it. This should hopefully make it easier to cope with the chaotic world around us.

Positive Note: FCAT is officially over! For those who don’t know, FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) is the yearly test the state of Florida thrusts upon its students. Since a majority of school funding comes from FCAT scores, most schools halt curriculum during the third quarter to make sure that students know the test. The practice is annoying and counterproductive, but finally it is all over! Today was the FCAT blow-out party at the elementary school I intern at, so I was thrilled to finally be able to delve into normal curriculum again (both at the elementary and high school). Minor sunburn aside, watching the kids run around and finally relax was so worth it.

In other news, teens in Mississippi are bringing the law up on trial. The teens, who were housed in a juvenile center mainly for running away, accused guards of molesting, manipulating, and abusing them. The girls filing the suit against the state say that they had their legs shackled for hours at a time, causing scrapes and cuts on their legs. Some of the girls were also molested by guards who would come into their cells with snacks and would then proceed to violate them. Psychologists say the pain these girls have endured has permanently scarred them. These suits bring into question the reliability of the state, who knew the juvenile facility was cruel since a previous lawsuit in 2005.