Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I'm not going to lie. The Minnesota Department of Education has the worst website I've encountered in quite some time.

They simply try to cram far too much onto their webpage.

I'm trying to renew my license. But it's just been one major pain from the get go.

My hours are up to date. I've met the requirements.

The licensure committee approved it all and gave me a link to renew my license on line.

One problem - it doesn't work.

So I go to the MDE site to renew my license.

I click on the pdf document that illustrates how to navigate one's way to the renewal page (I may acknowledge here that I tried this earlier in the year but realized the licensure committee had not signed off on everything yet).

I downloaded the pdf file. There's a problem, though. The MDE website has been updated since the pdf was created. So the pdf document instructing one on how to renew their license does not accurately mesh with the updated MDE site.

Lovely.

I manage to stumble my way upon the licensure renewal system.

But here comes the next pain in the ass: log in ID and password.

If there is one downside to our flat world, it has to be all the damned usernames and passwords.

What a joke.

I've no idea what the hell is going on, so I try to re-register, but, like I said, I did it last year. Do you think I recall my log in and pass word? No.

My username is sent to my registered email address.

That arrives in about a minute.

But it still doesn't tell me the password.

I type in my user ID and the usual two or three passwords that I commonly use.

Now here is where the blood pressure explodes.

Every time I enter a wrong password, it sends me to the customary "your password has not been recognized" screen. Then there are options to return to the log in screen or retrieve your password.

When I click on the option to return to the log in screen, it keeps me there for a split second before sending meback to the damn "your password has not been recognized" screen.

So I choose the retriever your password option. The only problem, it calls for you to enter your user ID and answer a security question.

No problem. There comes the screen with the message that a temporary password has been set up and emailed to me.

Now here is where the blood pressure explodes: it's been 15 minutes and the damn email and its damned temporary password is meandering through cyberspace.

So, anxious to get the damned licensing stuff done, I copy and paste the email address to their help center.

There I stated my case and asked for help.

Really? Does renewing a license have to be this freaking difficult?

Or is this simply a microcosm of why education reform is often languishing? It just doesn't have to be this damned difficult? Why does the state have to make it that way? (My first impulse - quite accurate I believe - is simply to keep as many people employed and on the pay roll as possible).

So I wait. Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.