Standardized Testing Rhetorical Analysis

Say No To Test

Standardized testing is a widely debated aspect of America's education system. There are many issues with the manner that we judge a child’s intelligence. After merely 10 years of schooling, the average student has endured an average of one-hundred-twelve exams. In certain situations it would be fine to argue that two sides exist to this story, yet that’s not the case here when it comes to aptitude. A grouping of questions is in no manner substantial enough to rank the caliber of any student regardless of its parameters. “These tests are dreadful” (Klodell) are the words of a 16 year old girl after she wrote about standardized tests. Should America continue to rank their students with such a dire test?

Having a standardized test can keep everyone at an equal level in our education system. For example, a teacher by the name of James Ayoc wrote on an online blog, “ the purpose of testing kids is to figure out what they know and are able to do.” (Aycock) Mr. Aycock uses these standardized tests to assay what his students know and are capable of doing. Another reason Mr. Aycock uses his test is to mark his ability to teach. Mr. James also argues that without the use of standardized testing, he would be unable to compare scores to measure

his students intelligence. Based on his data from his tests, if the majority of the class does well, then he moves up to higher level of teaching for his student's. Why should students be compared by their test scores?
“These tests strip you of your identity and you suddenly become a bar code.” (Klodell) Why do students need to take a standardized test when it’s only going to lead them to becoming a barcode? These test are dreadful to the students, affecting them with great sleep depression, stress, and anxiety. A student who takes a standardized test suddenly become a statistic, imagine their self esteem. A standardized test cannot define someone and should not be used to judge a student's intelligence. For a test that is also timed and difficult to do, it should not be allowed to define a person; “It is impossible to reflect a years of hard work.” Mr. James mentioned. It is morally wrong to compare a student's test to another for it will only lead to insecurities and more adolescente issues. Despite this and an adequate of more issues, there is also another pro for standardized testing.
The basic pro to standardized testing is the ability to measure a student's progress with equal opportunities no matter race or income. Assessments are used to make sure young students are getting the same education as higher class student's. (Gandy) These test exposes the racial bias going on around our education system and helps administrative employees better their school’s education system. With a common test it can also helps parents chose the “better school” for their children. A test score can give out a lot of information, but is it the information that you really need?
Yes, a standardized test can give off some information, but is it the correct information? No, they use the higher test scores to create the more luxurious image, but in reality they need to stop forgetting about the low score ones. If a student or more are having issues with a topic, the teacher should be able to slow down and help this student better understand the material without fearing of running out of time to teach for the test, or “teach to the test.” Using the old school grading scale can say a lot more than a bundle of lectures that need to be memorized for these benchmark tests. Taking the time to focus on critical skills, math, or any class can be more beneficial for an entire class then moving on in order to prepare for this test.
Ms. Gandy writes that report cards and teacher feedback are helpful tools in their children's academic progress, but they are not subjective. She argues that these tools only tell parents what a teacher thinks they are doing according to unique assignments and tests, but do not compare children's progress against a set of standard learning benchmarks. Standardized tests also gives information to teachers if their students are mastering their critical skills in their class rooms. A counter argument to Ms. Gandy is short and simple, “So trust the teacher.” (Jouriles) Teachers are trained to their student's, report cards and feedback are far more effective tools than standardized tests. These tools help student improve their education without putting their self esteem on the line.
Instead of having a standardized test, states should stick with the old school grading scale to determine a student's knowledge and a teacher's ability to teach.

In the regular grading scale, grades do vary widely because of these four factors: a teacher's conception of achievement, a teacher's sense of equity and rigor a student's effort. The student's knowledge is based on the graded assignments that the student has completed. Getting rid of these standardized testings removes the insecurities that student's have due to low score and many more factors. Abolishing this test can lead to recognition of our grading differences and create a common conception of achievement on our own based on what we need to work on

more.
States have changed the names of many assessments in order to reduce the fear and stress of students hearing the word “test”, but our education system should not be like this. A teacher should not have to teach to a test and should not be measured based on their student’s test scores. It is not their fault that their state makes them teach a certain way. States need to trust their teachers to teach their students what they need to know in order to be successful. Just as teachers, a student's knowledge should not be based off a common test because many students learn differently. Not only is this test expensive, but it is also a proven facts that scores rarely change, they either go up a percentage or go down a percentage. Standardized test cannot be trusted it has not benefited any student or teacher, it has just made our education system crumble with the waste in time, stress, anxiety and depression that it brings to a students mind before a test. I am a high school student. Therefore, I have the ability to stand against this impairment to my learning ability. A copious amount of student's stand against standardized tests and that because they are not benefited from them.