Against Standardized Testing

Argument against Standardized Tests

Standardized testing is one of the most controversial and highly debated topics in the United States today. These tests are commonly used to measure the students’ academic achievements and act as yardstick for teachers’ effectiveness in academic delivery. A typical student sits for at least “112 compulsory standardized tests between pre-kindergarten classes and 12th grade” (Layton). Proponents of standardized testing believe that the practice provides accurate measurements of student performance and teachers effectiveness. On the other hand, opponents of standardized testing argue that a single test given on a single day can neither be an accurate measure of the students’ academic achievement nor a yardstick

This aspect has resulted into a decrease of time spent in the recess. As a result, children’s’ emotional, social, and academic well-being is compromised in the long run (Ricci 351). Moreover, the fact that the federal funds are only availed to schools which meet specific thresholds, have put schools under pressure to ensure that their students can meet the requirements through standardized tests. As such, schools spend much time evaluating the students’ performance such that whenever “the students are not sitting for the standardized tests, then they are being prepared to sit for the tests” (Kohn 47). As a result, students skip or neglect other important activities such as extracurricular activities such as games in order to prepare adequately for the

Although the argument supporting standardized testing as an effective measure of students’ performance and teachers’ effectiveness in content delivery cannot be disqualified in absolute terms, it can be dismissed on the ground that it hinders students’ curiosity, creativity, and motivation for learning. The fact that most of the countries which outperform the U.S. on international examination only test their students thrice in the course of their education makes a wakening call to education policy makers to initiate massive overhaul in the U.S. education system/curriculum. These changes would reduce the pressure on both teachers and students and ensure equitable resource allocation to all public schools in the