...Schools are temples of education. They provide a vital purpose to society by teaching students invaluable lessons that they will use for the rest of their lives. Education maximizes someone’s potential and let’s them live up to their full capabilities. For every additional year of education an individual receives, their salary increases by up to 10 percent. Education as a whole is the wisest, most profitable investment a society can make. Recently however, a plague has infected schools and spread throughout our educational system like a cancer: standardized testing. Standardized tests have become a staple of the American education system but is it truly the best way to measure our students? As a child I loved learning. I loved learning how gravity dictates how the Earth revolves around the Sun or how you could use the Pythagorean theorem to determine the hypotenuse of a triangle. Often times when we were introduced to a new concept I would spend my free time researching it. What are the odds; somebody in academic decathlon being a nerd? But I truly do love learning. It’s an important part of who I am today and I wouldn’t be where I’m at now if it weren't for my passion of learning....
Words: 661 - Pages: 3
...Standardized Testing: Its Impact on American Education and Society: Schools all over the U.S are composed of many different types of students with diverse backgrounds. The goal of state officials is to improve education for students, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds, through the use of standardized testing. Its primary purpose for electing service officials in ancient china has led to its adoption in the U.S as a method for seeking improvements in the education system through testing students. However, holding schools and teachers responsible for annually increasing the average scores has shifted the curricula to teaching to the test, in addition to, putting the well being of both teachers and students at risk. Although standardized testing in the U.S. has been in place for over a century, its initial use is associated back to ancient China where the public was selected for jobs through testing. The purpose for standardized tests has always been to measure the knowledge and ability that one acquires. According to Osman Ozturgut, this purpose for testing was originally illustrated in 605 B.C, during the Sui Dynasty. Government jobs were administered to those with fairly high knowledge of Confucian philosophy. However, this would not guarantee a job. In addition to being tested on Confucian philosophy, they were also tested on “military strategy, civil law, revenue and taxation, agriculture, geography…” (3). Standardized tests were used as a method to give applicants...
Words: 2297 - Pages: 10
...What role should standardized testing play in Texas' public education system? The methods by which children are educated and academically measured in Texas have evolved over the past few decades, due to federal and state directed education policies. In an effort to establish accountability and improve the nation's competitiveness on a global scale, standardized testing has become a driving component of curricula nationwide. Almost every state, including Texas, governs its public schools under a national policy directive known as the "No Child Left Behind Act" (NCLB). The NCLB requires all states to utilize assessments to determine and report if a school has made adequate yearly progress (AYP) in the proficiency levels of all students. This is a relatively recent shift from local control of schools to centralized governance which is intended to improve education and eliminate harmful disparities in education quality (Ricci 342). Instead of school districts determining education standards, the state and federal governments provide the policy direction. One method to assess education performance and compliance with the centralized policy is the use of accountability measures - i.e., standardized tests. The NCLB, coupled with state policy, is intended to decrease inequality and set an objective measurement in place where school districts, schools, teachers, and even students can be held accountable for their progress or lack thereof. However, there are arguments from opponents...
Words: 10323 - Pages: 42
...A Position Against Standardized Testing I am a mother of two elementary school age kids, Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) board member, and actively involved in my children’s education. I have often asked why there is so much emphasis on standardized tests. Growing up, we took standardized tests but there was no real preparation work or stress over the test. We didn’t even know until the week prior that we had testing coming up. Back then teachers taught and engaged their students in learning all subjects because they loved teaching. We learned not only what was minimally acceptable to pass a standardized test, but much more beyond the testing requirements. I am very interested about high stake standardized testing in our public school system because it seems my children’s curriculum is solely based on concepts they need to learn to pass their standardized test. Rather than teaching to our children who are eager to learn how to be higher-level thinkers, we seem to be teaching them to accept a minimal standard and simply learn how to pass a test. Today, I see our children being given pretests and benchmark tests to see how well they will do on the standardized test. I witness teachers under pressure to make sure they get the curriculum in prior to the test and students being drilled repeatedly for the standardized tests. Our children come home stressed and concerned because in some states, these tests can determine if you are from moving to the next grade level,...
Words: 3350 - Pages: 14
...Is standardized testing an accurate way to measure student success in the classroom? This seems to be the biggest question when it comes to understanding the issue behind standardized testing today. Some people, like Dr. Gail Goss, believe that “such testing gives the teacher important diagnostic information about what each child is learning in relation to what he has been taught”, while comparing that student to others all over the country. However, some leaders in education, like President of Hampshire College Jonathan Lash, believe that standardized testing in no way shows the true success of a student because it simply “reduce[s] education to the outcomes of a test, [and makes] the only incentive for schools and students to innovate in...
Words: 1870 - Pages: 8
...Standardized Testing: An Ineffective Way to Measure Students’ Intelligence High-stakes testing turns many classrooms and schools into prep centers rather than offering rich, engaging, well-rounded instruction. Rote and narrow instruction bores and alienates students, making them tune out and feel they are little more than their scores (FairTest, 2004). High schools exit exams (FairTest, 2008) push many thousands of students out of school. As a result of these factors, urban graduation rates have decreased. Some students see no realistic option other than dropping out; some are deliberately pushed out or fail the tests. Either way, these young people are much more likely to end up in trouble or in prison. ("How Testing Feeds the School-to-Prison Pipeline") According to Peter D. Hart, a research associate for the Association of American Colleges and Universities, standardized tests unfairly measure students’ intelligence and academic performance. Therefore, the tests must be changed drastically or abandoned completely. Educators and parents have vocalized their view on the rising number of standardized tests the government has implemented in efforts to improve education in American schools. In light of the No Child Left Behind legislation under President George W. Bush, the government administers more and more tests to children, predominantly in lower grade levels ("Standardized Testing"). Along with No Child Left Behind, opponents have shown their disapproval of these...
Words: 2405 - Pages: 10
...Standardized Testing: Good or Bad? Education is the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge. We all crave knowledge, we all learn new things every day, and we all make decisions based on our knowledge. It comes to no surprise that a major part of our lives is education, from pre-k to graduate school. Being successful in our education consists of hard work, a little luck, and now, more importantly than ever, being able to pass exams. Tests are one of the only ways to see how well we understand a subject and in many instances, can either make you or break you. Testing, however, should be based on the individual, where differences in the way students learn should be taken into account. As of several years ago, however, our education system has moved away from this individual approach, and has adopted a broad and general way to measure success: standardized testing. We have all taken standardized tests at point in our lives, be it the FCAT or the SAT which had a huge influence on which colleges we were accepted to. There is no argument that standardized testing does have its advantages, such as allowing schools and states to compare their education systems to one another, however, standardized testing being implemented as a major factor in our education has overall had a negative impact on education. The use of standardized testing in deciding whether a student passes or fails is simply wrong. Standardized testing should not be implemented into our school systems...
Words: 2720 - Pages: 11
...Abstract Standardized testing does not define ones intelligence or ability. There has always been a quarrel about the tests: students may be very intelligent but are really bad test takers. The No child left behind act was an educational preference forced upon educators that will help them gain an equal opportunity at academic success. The law would promote this through standardized tests. Standardized testing may help students gain wonderful academic success however there are also things that can hinder scholars as well. Standardized testing has its advantages and disadvantages. Over the years standardized testing has been a trending topic, some people are in favor for the test while others are not. How can one test determine an individual’s ability or intelligence when students are people with needs and concerns beyond standardized testing! What is standardized testing? Standardized tests are tests where students answer multiple choice questions where each question only has one correct answer and are usually designed from experience and not theory (How standardized testing damages education ). The tests are based on educational aspects such as reading, math, and science skills (depending upon the type of standardized test being provided). Standardized testing is a law required aspect that is supposed to help scholars academic success and schools expand (with the use of federal funding). Various types of popular standardized test in the United States include Scholastic...
Words: 2041 - Pages: 9
...the Current Standardized Testing Program Rowan University February 9, 2016 Standardized testing has become a subject of debate in the U.S education system. The New Jersey Department of Education replaced its previous common core testing, NJASK and HSPA, in 2014, with a single new standardized test, PARCC, for all grades from 3-12 as the single statewide assessments tool (“PARCC Assessment,” 2016). Many, if not, all states have their own version of standardized testing programs at their grade and high school level, but the question arises as to how accurately standardized tests measure current students and future potential toward college. Some will agree with J. Pollard (2002) that ‘we need standardized tests, if only because we have no alternative method of measuring student achievement, and making sure that all kids are getting a decent education’. Others will argue that it is a distractor and negatively impacts a students’ long term motivation and that it causes unnecessary stress (“High stakes testing,” 2016). If we decided to abandon such testing as PARCC, what will replace it? This paper will look into the issue of standardized testing, offer some alternatives methods that reflect changes in assessments and looking into a means to address the issue at the National level. The end result would be an assessment system that can continue to evaluate our children in the holistic view for future advances into higher education. Standardized...
Words: 1189 - Pages: 5
...Standardized Testing: Debunking the Myths Trestin M. Holmes Wiley College ENGL 1302 08 OL-English Composition Dr. Don Lawson November 17, 2014 Abstract The purpose of this research is to thoroughly examine the myths and preconceived notions pertaining to standardized testing and compare it with factual evidence. The criteria that will be used to accurately analyze this study will consist of evaluating the overall effectiveness of standardized testing in terms of student achievement, estimating how much of a financial burden standardized testing has proven to be in past years, and observing the adverse impact that standardized testing has had on children from a statistical & realistic standpoint. This will undoubtedly give insight on how much of a detriment standardized testing is in today’s society. Standardized Testing: Debunking the Myths What is Standardized Testing? A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner. Any test in which the same test is given in the same manner to all test takers is a standardized test. Thesis Standardized tests have been a part of American education since the mid-1800’s and its use has skyrocketed since the induction of 200’2’s “No Child Left Behind Act”...
Words: 1500 - Pages: 6
...The long history of standardized testing began in the 7th Century Imperial China where the test was administered to people seeking jobs in the government (Mathews). The tested used by the Chinese tested the applicants' knowledge of Confucian philosophy and were used up until 1898 (Crozier). For the Western world, the Industrial Revolution brought about the movement to bring school aged kids working in factories and on farms to the classroom. Standardized testing allowed the newly expanded student body to be tested efficiently (Jehlen). The use of standardized testing exponentially rose after the passing of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002 which mandated annual testing in all 50 states (Coulson). The use of standardized testing is now split into a like or dislike because of the amount of achievement, the reliability, and the amount of discrimination they bring. Achievement brings about the sense of accomplishment and opponents of standardized testing believe that standardized testing does not bring about a sense of accomplishment because standardized testing has not improved student achievement. After the No Child Left Behind Act passed in 2002, the United States decreased from 18th in the world in math on the Programme for International Student Assessment to 31st place in 2009 and with a lesser decrease in science but no change in the ranking for reading (Walker). Opponents of standardized testing use a National Research Council report from 2011 that found no evidence that...
Words: 1713 - Pages: 7
...Should public schools continue standardized testing? The United States government implemented the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA), signed into law on January 8, 2002 by President George W. Bush (US Government Printing Office, 2002). This Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills. In order to receive federal school funding, states must give these assessments to all students at select grade levels. The Act does not assert a national achievement standard. Each state develops its own standards (US Government Printing Office, 2002). Since the creation of this act, various debates challenge the practical use of the standardized tests. The debate presented for this paper is an argument, “Should public schools continue standardized testing?” The favorable arguments are that the standardized tests are fair, backed by parents, improves the quality of the curriculum, and the usage of standardized tests outside of the public education system. The arguments against standardized testing are stereotyping poor performing students, testing anxiety, low morale with teachers, and basing teacher evaluations on student performance. Additionally, ethical, moral and legal issues are identified in relation to standardized testing and their effects on high-stakes testing. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the given arguments, both for and against standardized testing from different sources and to conclude with a consensus of the arguments with the authors of this...
Words: 2251 - Pages: 10
...Standardized Testing: Harmful to Learning Standardized Testing: Harmful to Learning Currently impressionable youth are receiving test results that may seem of little consequence to most but to them it says they are not good enough, or smart enough. Many students have received these results and felt the disappointment it can bring not only to their academic life but also how it melts into their self-esteem and self-worth. Even a teacher feeling they have failed there students, being unable to achieve certain marks knowing students will suffer not only academically but also loose funding for programs that they so desperately need or want. These negative connotations along with incidents of impropriety have come to light in the process of standardized testing in our schools across the nations. Standardized testing has created a test driven education, altering teaching strategies with a higher stress environment for not only teachers but students as well, and has great consequences for all involved if they fail to meet mandated scores. History of Testing Testing isn’t new to education yet it has changed dramatically from where it started many years ago. The history of testing dates back for many centuries for many different reasons including our military, but most are centered on education and its effectiveness as a whole. When the military introduced aptitude tests they where to help find suitable candidates for positions such as officers, and other special...
Words: 3603 - Pages: 15
...Testing in schools has always been common; teachers need a way to arbitrate if students are understanding and obtaining the knowledge being taught. However, a different type of test is becoming prominent in school systems. Standardized testing, examinations administered and scored in a standard manner (7), are taking over the school systems. Standardized tests administered to students are either aptitude tests or achievement tests. Aptitude tests predict student’s performance, like the common ACT and SAT that colleges frequently use; achievement tests evaluate teacher and school effectiveness (7). Although standardized tests are becoming significant in school curriculum, the results do not accurately represent student or teacher abilities....
Words: 1763 - Pages: 8
...Annotated Bibliography for Standardized Testing Perry Barr Devry University Annotated Bibliography for Standardized Testing : I was always told that one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch; which is true. Standardized Testing should be used to find the child with a learning disability and work with that child. Not to grade the whole school and that school gets a poor grade. That’s like taking a bunch of apples and throwing them out just because a couple of them were spoiled. A person needs to work with the good parts of the apple and make apple pie. Improve the child by adding things that will take that child higher and increase their ability to learn. Gregory J. Cizek, "Unintended Consequences of High Stakes Testing - P-12,” Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, Sep. 2001 Susan Ohanian, "Collateral Vomitage,” www.susanohanian.org, Mar. 14, 2002 Standardized testing causes severe stress in younger students. According to education researcher Gregory J. Cizek, anecdotes abound “illustrating how testing... produces gripping anxiety in even the brightest students, and makes young children vomit or cry, or both.” On Mar. 14, 2002, the Sacramento Bee reported that “test-related jitters, especially among young students, are so common that the Stanford-9 exam comes with instructions on what to do with a test booklet in case a student vomits on it.” Cizek is an education researcher and I believe his studies are in depth to the topic I am documenting. Assessment:...
Words: 1341 - Pages: 6
