Pärt, "The Deer's Cry"

The once-yearly standardized madness that is the Ohio State Test begins this week for our district.  

From the Ohio Department of Education  ...

State achievement tests tell us how well our students are growing in the knowledge and skills outlined in Ohio’s Learning Standards. These tests help guide and strengthen future teaching so we can be sure that we are preparing our students for long-term success in school, college, careers and life. Test results also allow citizens to know how their local schools are performing compared to others around the state. 

Accordingly, I thought it appropriate that prayers for battle were in order. 

From the Arvo Pärt Center ...

There is a legend about The Deer’s Cry, the holy lorica or the breastplate prayer, telling the story of Saint Patrick who, knowing that he and his accompanying monks were being ambushed and likely killed, led his men through the woods reciting that prayer. The enemies saw them in the woods as a mother deer with calves, and Saint Patrick and his men were thus saved.

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