Testing to Learn or Learning to Test:
An argument against frequent standardized testing
Christine Learned
English 112
Professor David Makhanlall
July 19, 2015
Childhood passes in a blink of an eye, and what is left behind are the adults that will take on the work force as the later generation retires. Schools are where children spend the majority of their day. There, they are meant to be learning skills and garnering knowledge that will shape them into capable adults with a strong base knowledge that has prepared them to pursue their chosen field of work. But it has become clear that there is a glitch in the system in the United States. Today’s world is a fast paced competitive place, and that competitiveness
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In fact, it’s the teachers who may be experiencing the most negative effects. There is a disturbing disconnect between how a student and the school board defines a good teacher. The student wants someone who is passionate about what they teach. Who takes the time to fully explain a concept and is able to present it in creative and engaging ways. And this is how most teachers wish to be, but there is so much material to cover to prepare for the required tests, that it leaves little room for actually engaging students. Schools are judged nearly entirely based on how well students score on standardized tests, which in turn places the pressure on the teachers for their students to score well. Teachers are forced to make a choice between educating in depth or covering the mandated material in a rush. This has led to a high level of stress for teachers as they feel they are forced to teach in a way much similar to cramming just to get their students to meet the needed scores on the required tests. This is taking away the joy of the work which drove many to become teachers in the first place, leaving many dissatisfied in their