Standardized testing?

Question

Do you think it is fair for schools to only teach the students to pass the standardized tests? This was started up as I was finishing high school. I've noticed that a lot of my fellow college students aren't ready for the classes because they don't have the basis forthe materials we are studying. What exactly is the impotance of the standardized test?

Answer 1

Schools do not "only" teach students to pass the standardize tests. However, I feel the focus on standardize testing is getting out of hand and that many people in education forget what the goal of education is.

The importance of standardize testing varies. Standardize testing just shows if you can take a test and meet the expectations. Also, standardize testing "sets" the bar of where a school should be at.

Answer 2

The problem is that the government spends money on education, and needs some easy way to tell if children are being educated. If they are being educated, then the government knows that the money is doing what it is supposed to do, help educate students. If they are not being educated, then it is the government's responsibility to change things so that students will be educated. The only way to do this on a national level is to use a standardized test, which is a test which has had the questions and answers researched and analyzed so that any particular score can be reasonably assumed to mean something. It is not good for a student's education to only study what will be on the test, but then it isn't good to spend time not studying what you will eventually be judged by. As a teacher, nothing is more frustrating than trying to tell a student about an interesting aspect of a subject only to have your attempt to give your students the 'good stuff' shut down by the inevitable question, "Will this be on the test?" Humans, especially ones that aren't particularly interested in the subject matter do not like to 'waste' their time on items that may be interesting but will not help their grade in the long run.

Answer 3

Standardized testing has been lobbied for strongly by the test-making companies, instead of looking at making the measures that were already in place more effective (grades, student portfolios, etc.).

It's all about money. The Republicans want to cut federal funding to education, but not take the fall for public opinion about it. So they are working hard to make teachers look bad. Meanwhile, test-making companies push for more and more testing, because they are seeking to increase their profits.... off taxpayer dollars.

Instead of standardized tests to determine student progress toward state standards and benchmarks, teacher-made pre- and post-unit tests (kept in student portfolios, combined with student writing/work samples, to prove student growth) combined with 80% being a passing grade rather than 60%, would increase student proficiency.

Teachers are being squeezed unmercifully by NCLB. They are judged entirely by a combination of student state test results, and their annual professional development plan (coursework, etc.). Class sizes get larger and larger, while student needs grow heavier (increased special needs inclusion, bilingual, increased poverty culture, etc.).

Answer 4

Schools really don't have a choice. There is a national bill called "No Child Left Behind" which basically makes it mandatory that each school have a standardized exit exam. If it was up to many schools, they wouldn't do it, but it's federal law so they have little choice on the matter.

Answer 5

Yeah, unfortunate students like us went to those types of schools that only prepare students to take boring tests and exams.

Answer 6

I am agree with you,but I don t know how to help......
All I learn in school is a little and not useful.......But that was that program for school......Now is better......And today,children here have more options to learn.