Did you know that if your favorite hosts don’t show up for a month, they don’t actually have to let you out of class early? Common misconception. In this episode, David and L make a triumphant return to the education world with everybody’s favorite subject: testing. If you’ve ever stared at a question in total confusion and wondered just how we all ended up here (and if you’ve ever woken up in a cold sweat many years later), this is the episode for you. Armed with historical context and modern experience, we tackle the controversial question at the heart of the testing debate: what are tests actually useful for in 2026? There may be more to the answers than you realize.*Correction: The timeline we use in this episode is from the National Education Association, not the U.S. Department of Education, although their histories are intertwined. Behold the timeline, complete with mysterious gap. All hail the mysterious gap. What was that book David mentioned about the history and science of reading? Check out Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf and tell us what you think!To learn more about how anxiety shapes our thinking, go back and listen to our episode with Lindsay Cohen, and stay tuned for a new episode with her on OCD!Thanks to artist Mr Smith and the Free Music Archive for the use of our theme song, "Funk Five."

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