You're kidding, right? Isn't it better to lay the fundamentals and progress from there? The teaching consists of 2-3 weeks of cramming just enough trivia into their heads that they pass the test then it's back to business as usual. I've also heard of cases where students are put under additional pressure from teachers that if they don't pass the test the teacher will be "in trouble." What a motivator for all concerned.
you teach fundamentals FIRST, the cramming comes LAST to meet the test requirements... ban ALL calculators to start with until they get to geometry.