1 Sepa Tatafu Collin Hull ENGL 2010 October 1, 2013

Standardized Testing
Has the use of Standardized Tests improved or hurt the Education system in the United States?
The debate on standardized testing has widely spread across the United States. There are those who say that standardized tests had improved the education system but on the other hand, there are those who say that standardized tests have hurt the education system. This controversial issue is being talked about often and it is important to learn more about this issue to have your own standpoint on it. Standardized testing has been used since the early 1900s and was only used to determine someones intelligence quotient (I.Q.). Standardized tests have been used to determine readiness for school; to track students in to remedial, regular or advanced classes; for admission to college or graduate school; and to place students in college English and math classes (Standardized Testing, 1998). Today, standardized tests are used all across the United States. In 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act that would mandate all schools to test students annually. These tests are given to students in grades three though eight and

2 then once in high school. Standardized testing has changed the education system and has caused a lot of controversy.

Opponents of Standardized Testing

There is a small group of parents nationwide that are making sure their children are not participating in the standardized tests given annually, this movement is called the Opt-out movement. This group is small but is growing and spreading across the States. These parents believe that standardized tests are making young children stress. Parents who are currently taking part in the Opt-out movement have said their children were going home from school with stomachaches, crying, and throwing up so they knew something had to be done. Parents also believe that these tests are wrongfully being used to evaluate a teachers performance and are concerned that the preparation for these tests is narrowing curricula down to the minimum needed to pass an exam (Zezima, 2). Every hour that is spent preparing students to do well on standardized exams is an hour spent helping them to become critical, creative, curious thinkers (Kohn, 1). Will Richardson, an educational consultant and former teacher, stated the following, Im just opposed to the way high-stakes testing is being used to evaluate teachers, the way its being used to define whats happening in classrooms (Zezima, 2). Some teachers and other authoritative figures in the education system are also opposing the idea of standardized tests due to the fact that they are used to see what is going on in the classroom and if teachers are doing a good or bad job. All across the United States parents, teachers, and students are fighting against standardized tests. Groups are rising up to protest and fight against standardized testing.

3 In Washington, D.C., a group of parents and students protested outside the Department of Education. Students and teachers at a Seattle high school boycotted a standardized test, leading the district superintendent to declare that city high schools have the choice to deem it optional. In Oregon, students organized a campaign persuading their peers to opt out of tests(Zezima, 2) Jesse Hogopian, a teacher in Seattle, opposes standardized tests because they narrow what education is supposed to be about and they lower kids horizons. Like Hogopian, some believe that these tests are not allowing children to use their imagination and critical thinking skills and that you cannot fully see what a child has learned by having them circle A, B, C, D, or E. According to Alfie Kohn, the focus and attention on test scores has a devastating effect on schools across the country. Schools are either cutting back or eliminating programs in the arts, recess for young children, electives in high school, class activities that focus on moral and social learning, discussions on current events, the use of literature in elementary, and subject areas like science if they are not on the test (Kohn, 2). According to the article, More Parents Opting Kids Out of Standardized Tests, some states were granted waivers for No Child Left Behind, which requires districts to have at least 95 percent of students participate in standardized testing or be at risk of losing funding (Zezima, 2). This means that if parents are taking their children out on days of a test, a school may lose funding because parents are opposing the idea of standardized tests.

4 This raises a huge problems for some parents because they are not allowed to have input or make decisions for their children because if a school does not get enough students taking tests, the school will no longer get federal funds. Some Americans feel that schools need to let children expand their horizons instead of narrowing down the curriculum. Also, standardized tests cannot determine what is happening in the classroom. Teachers are being evaluated and labeled good or bad they decide to only teach to the test. Many people argue that the education system is suffocating teaching and learning. Stephanie Banchero, a writer for the Washington Post, wrote the following in her September 2013 article, The increasing role of standardized testing in U.S. classrooms is triggering pockets of rebellion across the country from school officials, teachers and parents who say the system is stifling teaching and learning. All across the country groups are getting together to fight the required annual testing. Four hundred local school boards in Texas came up with an idea and asked lawmakers to scale back testing, and in Washington, five hundred students did not go to school and missed the state exam to protest. Debbie Shaw, a mother of two children enrolled in Palm Beach schools, has become angry at the education system and wants to have her youngest child put in a private school next year. Shaw expressed her anger by stating, Theyve turned a generation of kids into test-taking machines who are lacking creative-thinking ability. She also says that Florida has an insane testing regime and is completely against standardized testing.

5 A lot of the annual exams that are given measure basic standards, which is a big problem for some critics because they believe students could be spending that time learning advanced material. Critics of standardized testing say state exams are riddled with poor questions, and that decisions on how many questions students must answer correctly to pass are arbitrary (Banchero, 3). Many believe that time is not well spent because of the pressure of standardized tests, it is also believed that these tests are composed of questions that are not well written, children are being turned into test-taking machines, and that it is not reasonable to say a child needs to answer so many questions in order to pass. These are many of the reasons people across the states are against the use of standardized testing.

Proponents of Standardized Testing

There are those who say that standardized testing is something good and is only improving the education system. PR Newswire, a global news distributer, wrote an article that talked about a couple of pros for standardized testing. This article states that, proponents say standardized tests are a fair and objective measure of student ability, that they ensure teachers and schools are accountable to taxpayers, and that the most relevant constituents- parents and students- approve of testing (PR Newswire, 2011). Though there is a group of parents and students who feel strongly that standardized testing is bad, there is a bigger group of parents and students that believe that standardized testing is a good thing because it shows how well teachers and students are doing and it gives back to taxpayers that pay taxes for the education system.

6 This group of parents, students, and professionals have made the statement that poverty levels, tenure, teacher quality, and the use of standardized tests have been blamed for failures in the education system but they question these reasons for a failed education system. Some of these reasons may have an effect on the education system like socioeconomic status and teacher quality but this group strongly feels that standardized tests are only benefiting the education system and should not be blamed for failure in schools. Richard Phelps, a pro-testing scholar, conducted a testing research project that was completed in 2011. Phelps found that 93% of studies in a 100-year analysis have shown that student testing has had a positive effect on student achievement. A lot of people blame standardized testing on a students failure but this study has shown that only 7% of student tests has had a negative effect on student achievement. School Board Members and administrators were given a survey on their attitudes towards current criticisms of standardized testing. Figure 3 shows the findings of this survey. In the study, 51% of school board members and administrators do not think it would be wise to eliminate standardized testing. A lot of those who were in the study agreed that a lot of people do not understand results of these tests and misinterpret the results-all groups but teachers misinterpret and dont understand results of tests.

Some feel this test should not and cannot be skipped. Norman Augustine, a writer for the Washington Post, writes, Members of this burgeoning anti-test movement fail to grasp testings valuable role in motivating and guiding students and teachers. Preparing young Americans for success in the global economy will require our schools to improve,

8 not abolish, academic standards. Augustine argues that those who oppose standardized tests do not see that these tests motivate and guide students and teachers. In Augustines eyes, standardized tests prepare young children to succeed in life. Augustine states three reasons why people oppose standardized tests and argues the statements. First, people think that these exams take away the attention from larger goals of education. These tests only encourage teachers to teach the test. Augustine argues that teaching the test is the whole point and that these tests measure students proficiency, which only improves the education system. A second argument made is that standardized tests drive educators to cheat. Teachers will make student test scores higher to avoid penalties and make sure they get bonuses that are given once test scores are received. Augustine argues that most teachers are honest and dedicated professionals; even if something like this were to happen, you cannot blame standardized tests. The last argument is that too much pressure is put on students but Augustine argues that countries where a single five-day test is given, those students will still score higher than students here in the States. Augustine closes the article stating; critics of standardized testing should see this reform effort as an opportunity to make testing better. Educators have an indispensable role in creating tests that do justice to student achievement while rewarding skilled teachers. Those who argue against standardized testing are not only misguided but are also leading U.S. schools and students in precisely the wrong direction (Augustine, 3).

9 Many people along with Augustine agree that standardized tests have improved the education system and that they help a students achievement and reward teachers for their hard work.

The Debate Still Remains

Whether you feel that standardized tests have improved or hurt the education system, there still is no right answer. There are many pros and cons to standardized testing but it is a topic that will always be debated.

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Works Cited Page

Anonymous Author. Standardized testing pros and cons: Latest research analyzed on new ProCon.org website. (2011, Jun 22). PR Newswire.

Augustine, Norman R. A Test we cant afford to Skip. Washington Post: A.13. Aug 02 2013. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Sep. 2013.

Banchero, Stephanie. School-Test Backlash Grows. Wall Street Journal: A.3. May 16 2012. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Sep. 2013.

Kohn, Alfie. "The Real Threat to American Schools." Tikkun 2001: 25+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Sep. 2013.

Mankiller, Wilma, and others. Standardized Testing. The Readers Companion to U.S. Womens History, 1998. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Sep. 2013.

Zezima, Katie. More Parents Opting Kids Out of Standardized Tests. Asbury Park Press: n.p. Sep 08 2013. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Sep. 20130.

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Images Cited
ProCon Image on First Page: http://standardizedtests.procon.org/images/bas/givecomment-standardized-tests.png Accessed: September 23, 2013

Figure 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cito_Eindtoets_Basisonderwijs.JPG Accessed: September 23, 2013

Figure 3: Rudman, Herbert C. The Standardized Test Flap. Phi Delta Kappan International. Vo (Rudman)l. 59, No. 3 (Nov., 1977), pp. 184. Accessed: September 29, 2013