The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing In Schools

Standardized tests have been a controversial issue regarding whether they are helping or hurting students and their academics. People that are for standardized testing argue that the tests are fair because all students nationwide are learning and being tested on the same thing. Bruno, Kemmerling, and others agree that these tests are beneficial to schools, students, and teachers. Others who are against standardized testing disagree because teachers are only teaching to the test. Littky, Caines, and Hanford see the negative aspects of standardized testing and want to change how people perceive it. Both sides of the issue have a credible argument.

Many people agree that standardized tests are a reasonable evaluation of a student’s capability. Standardized tests originated in the mid-1800s, in the American education system. W. James Popham defines standardized testing by “any test that’s administered, scored, and interpreted in a standard, predetermined manner” (“Is the Use of…,” 2013). After the No Child Left behind Act (NCLB) came about in the early 2000s, the use of standardized testing became popular. NCLB required yearly testing for specific grades and subjects. If schools did not demonstrate adequate improvement, they were either closed or run by the state. This was done so the state and the tax payers of the schools knew that students were learning and knowing the material. Tax payers especially wanted to make sure their money was going to good use (“Is the Use of…,” 2013). High scores on standardized tests can result in funding for the school, along with bonuses to the facility and staff of the school.

SATs and ACTs are two major standardized tests. A University in California discovered that if colleges did not require SAT...

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...teaching students that it does not matter how hard you try as long as you score the highest. Standardized tests are teaching students the same thing. They are saying that scoring high is most important thing. All of my teachers wanted us to do well because it made them and the school look good, not because they cared about us or our learning. There is a huge problem with this. It is good to do well on these tests, but teachers need to remember why they became a teacher in the first place. Teachers wanted to become teachers to help students learn and succeed in life, not to make their students score high on tests so they get praised. Schools and teachers need to bring the focus back on students and not care so much about test scores. I think the first step in doing this is to get rid of standardized tests. Standardized testing is the downfall in our education system.