“... Standardized testing accounts for two factors that turn us off biologically from ever being able to learn. When a student takes a test, they are usually afraid. Not only that, but the tests themselves are boring, and we know what boredom does; it is a memory killer.” Those words were quoted from an article written by Danny Keener, a teacher.
There has been an extensive amount of debate about education system. Education system is a major concern due to its important stance in determining the quality of future generations. In the article, the author was saying that the existing education is not stimulating; it drives students to sleep. Also, standardized test induces fear inside the students’ mind and kills their memory. A study done by University of Maryland found that teachers were compelled to “teach to the test” due to the standardized tests. Briefly, the article exposes 3 problems of the existing education system; it is not stimulating, standardized, and is based on fear.
The standardized nature of the education system was designed in and for the industrial revolution of the late 18th-19th century. According to Ken Robinson, an educationalist, the industrial revolution
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In USA, standardized testing has been done since the mid 1800s and is mandated in 50 states. Standardized test had been proven to be of no help, in improving student’s knowledge, through a study by Brookings Institution. The study found that 50-80% of test score improvements were temporary and "caused by fluctuations that had nothing to do with long-term changes in learning..." . This suggests that the rise in scores are only an illusion. However, standardized test is also considered important for the government to keep track on the level of education in the country. Therefore, based on that thinking, the standardized test should only be taken as a survey method, not a measurement