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Standardized Testing In Schools

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I believe that the greatest challenge schools are facing today is the stress of standardized testing. Standardized tests were put in place to set higher goals for schools and their teachers. This idea is a positive one, but not when it puts too much pressure on administrators, teachers, and students. The scores schools achieve on these exams determine how much government funding they are able to receive. This only leads to a harsh and stressful learning environment. The multiple choice layout of these tests cannot determine what a child knows or what kind of education he or she is obtaining. Teachers are beginning to base their lesson plans around these tests and taking extra classroom time to discuss correct test-taking skills. This change results in the loss of creativity and variety that makes learning enjoyable for students, as well as their teachers. Many schools are removing art and music classes from their curriculum to create more time for the subjects students are going to be tested on. The additional time added to cover test material takes away time for hands-on activities that involve critical thinking skills. Some educational reformers suggest asking questions on standardized tests that can be answered without limits, so each child can express him or herself. …show more content…
Students with culturally different backgrounds may not be able to answer these types of questions correctly. This shows a bias in the testing system towards students with advantaged home lives over the students that are disadvantaged. Much of the information students cram into their brains in order to do well on these multiple-choice tests ends up leaving them as soon as the test is over. Therefore, the stress of studying and memorizing information for a standardized tests overrides actual

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