Argumentative Essay On Standardized Testing

"These reforms express my deep belief in our public schools and their mission to build the mind and character of every child, from every background, in every part of America," says President George W. Bush after his January, 2001 Inauguration (U.S. Department of Education).What President Bush conveys in this statement is the encouragement and the belief that public education can be improved. Public education is supposed to be ameliorized again to assure international competitive ability, and thus a desirable standard of living for everyone. However, the question arises if standardized testing and its consequences, as a result of the federal reform “No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLB), did it achieve the predicted and necessary improvement of United

Department of Education). What effects, however, rather positive or negative ones, does standardized testing have on the knowledge and the ability of the test takers in the US? Do standardized tests increase equity or the opposite? How objective and valid are these tests? Do they correctly measure what they are supposed to measure? These are some important questions that will be discussed within this paper leading to the conclusion that standardized testing has destructive effects on U.S. education, especially, in schools, on teachers and most severely on the students. These destructive effects are mirrored in a decrease of a solid knowledge foundation, a decrease of different essential skills like solving cognitive problems, social conflicts and a lack of creativity. Furthermore, holding schools and teachers accountable for test results promotes a grave narrowing of the curriculum. It leaves only very little time for other important aspects of teaching such as diversity and interests, and it leads to cheating on test scores. In addition, more tests produce more stress for pupils, teachers and parents. Instead of any advantages more tests are highly time-consuming which creates a lack of time for other important needs such as science and