Standardized testing - is it wrong?

Question

Isn't it the job of the teacher to educate each student and judge the level of learning made by each student. Shouldn't the classroom concentrate on teaching subjects, and not on preparing students to pass a "specific" standardized test. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

I never did well on standardized tests myself. I was too anxious and would become very ill, but I did great in the classroom and maintained a 3.75 G.P.A. in my Master's degree and bombed the GRE exam, so I don't put to much into the standardized tests. Unfortunately, our society does, so my request of my students and children is to do the best they can to at least pass.

Answer 2

Standardized testing is a double edged sword.

Good stuff: checks to make sure the 'basics' are being taught (and learned). Helps keeps the schools and teachers on track according to regulations. Creates uniformity across the country.

Bad stuff: Bad teachers will still teach poorly, they will cover the basics and not care about anything else. Students can purposely fail the test, making the school and teacher look bad. Too much government oversight in the classroom can be a bad idea. Does not leave the idea of special circumstances very open.

In my schools, I was lucky. Most of my teachers were very good. Unfortunately, I know of teachers who did absolutely nothing for their students, and someone does need to keep the schools and those teachers in line. Example: a dylexic child who could only read less than a 2nd grade level passing unkown through 6th grade.

Personally, I think there should be graduating exit exams for normal high schools. This way, pressure is also on the students to learn. It's easy to pass a test that only covers 5 weeks, but they should actually learn what was covered in 5 years at the end.

Answer 3

I don't think standardized testing is wrong or unfair. It's just a way to judge the learning of each child on the same scale. I don't think teachers have to "teach to the test" because the tests should be able to be passed with little or no difficulty given the child has paid attention. Plus, the teacher most likely follows the state's curriculum -- shouldn't a state's standardized test as well? Even in college admissions standardized testing isn't unfair because the applicants are presented as a package, not a test score. Until someone can find a more effective way to objectively measure learning, standardized testing is the only option.

Answer 4

No They're not wrong at all. Standardized tests are questions based on a ciricullum that all teachers should touch bases on in their class room. They're based on common knowledge of the subject. If you dont pass them then you're teachers are not effecintly teaching you. The questions asked are always broad and generalized and rarely in depth. Its not "specific" at all ... its a very general test.

Answer 5

There are many views on this topic and if you are an american born white person, you will find the answer is no.
However, if you do even the littlest amount of research you will find that these tests are biased, culturally, ethnically, and racially.
Mind you, I am a white, american born female,, I am the target that these tests are aimed at succeeding.
These tests are out-dated and soon to be obsolete in America.
They are proven to be biased. Do your research - you WILL be shocked. They were developed for certain"classes" to pass.
I welcome any argument on this to e-mail me....same name @ yahoo... I would Love to enlighten you:)