Too Much Testing in Schools?
Nowadays there are tons of different standardized tests in schools. They are supposed to make sure students are learning and comprehending certain material. They are supposed to make sure everyone is up to the standards. And they are supposed to assess to see if the teachers and schools are doing a good job. But are these tests really accurate? Are they really doing any good?
Recently, my home state has discussed and agreed upon the idea of assessments for high school graduation. Ten tests, on the four main subjects English, math, science, and social studies, but you only have to pass six. For example, there are three math tests, algebra I, algebra II, and geometry; you need to pass two of those to meet the graduation requirement.
My first thoughts on this were "are they crazy? There are enough tests as it is." Then, I found out that these graduation exams might take the place of final exams. Don't final exams count towards anything? Don't they show whether students have comprehended the material or not?
Of course, more questions went through my head. "What happens if students don't pass?" "Are they held back?" "Do they leave school with no diploma?" "When are these tests taken? Are you expected to take the algebra test after you have completed the algebra course, or near the time of graduation?"
It turns out if students do not pass, they would have numerous opportunities to retake the test, and there would also be remedial courses the students could take too.
But, once again, it led me to even more questions. "Does retaking the test really show anything? If you fail a test in class, the majority of the time you can't retake it." "Do the retakes take place during class time when students should be learning?" "When will these remedial courses take place?" "Who will teach these courses?"
Isn't it already bad enough that students have tests in all their classes, then final exams, and sometimes even midterms, standardized state tests, SATs, and possibly ACTs for high school students?
If we keep adding more and more tests when will there be time for learning?
Many students suffer from test anxiety. They get so nervous before testing especially when they know how much it really counts. Some students need help because of learning disabilities, but sometimes the help cannot be offered. Sometimes students get so nervous, they blank on tests, but if you would ask the students questions about the material and not put so much pressure on them, they could answer them with no problem. So, is all this testing really that accurate? Do they really show what a student has learned?
Is teaching to the test really going to make the education systems better?
With standardized testing, if schools do poorly, they end up losing funding. Could this hurt the students' education more than help them?
Does taking away extra-curricular activities and elective classes help students do better in their "main" subjects? Or does it hurt the students overall education more?
Do all these tests take away from the freedom of learning?
At least for me, the education systems prompt lots of questions. Many unanswered questions. I am no longer in the public school system; I have not been for a while now. Nevertheless, I do care about the education system because kids are the future of our country. We need to have a good education system, but right now, I am not so sure it is headed in the right direction.
How do you feel about education and testing?
Published by Avery Ryan
I am interested in many things. View profile
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3 Comments
Post a CommentIndustry learned several decades ago that you cannot test quality into a product, you must design it in and then have a comprehensive and flexible process that measures variation along the path. Testing is counter to quality in a product or service and counter to learning in a student. There are numerous ways to measure knowledge and critical thinking skills on a nearly daily basis while students learn and teach each other.
Instead, we continue to barbarically waste untold student and teacher hours preparing, taking, and retaking tests. It is stupid and as long as we keep doing it this way, we will continue to fall behind. What is the definition of insanity?
The problem is American students are falling further and further behind the rest of the developed world (they now test in a lower percentile on average than do European students, Japanese, etc.) How else do you try to figure out what they know? And I'm not picking on you, just asking :-)
Great piece. I think that test anxiety is the biggest problem, really. Some students simply aren't good test takers. i think that they should be given the option of taking a test, doing a project or something else.