Arguments Against Standardized Testing

Standardized Testing? How many standardized tests do you take every year? Every year on average, a student spends 20-25 hours testing. That’s not even including the time spent preparing. With all that time spent testing it should be helpful right? Some argue that it is, however I believe the opposite. Standardized testing is harmful because it adds unnecessary stress to students, each state develops their own standards, and the obsession with testing is robbing children of their childhoods. First, standardized testing is harmful because it adds unnecessary stress to students. On March 14, 2002, the Sacramento Bee reported about test related jitters. The report said that these were so common that their test came with instructions on how to

Some places like California, take a test like STAR. This test is entirely multiple choice. Then in some places like Connecticut, they have tests like CMT. This test includes essay questions, showing not much room for comparing results. In brief, each state develops their own standards which doesn’t leave a basis for comparison. Not to mention, the obsession with testing is robbing children of their childhoods. Research done in March of 2009 showed the time spent playing in kindergarten has been dwindling. This time has then been replaced by long lessons and more tests. Another study done in October of 2010 by the Gesell Institute of Human Development, showed the effects of emphasizing tests. The study said, “This emphasis on testing is making kids feel like failures as early as Pre-K”. All in all, the obsession with testing is robbing children of their childhoods. It’s easy for some people to think that these tests are helpful. People like this claim that the parents approve of these tests. Others say that standardized tests are reliable and measure student achievement. This may be true, however, a study published in 2001 showed that 50-80% of test score improvements were temporary. People also say that these improvements were caused by fluctuations that had nothing to do with long-term changes. Given these points, standardized tests are harmful to