Standardized Testing: Doing Harm or Doing Good? When Standardized Testing became popular during the Industrial Revolution, in the early 1800’s, students were taken out of factories and put to work behind desks. As the Standardized Tests grew in popularity, controversy rose (Fletcher). Any examination that is administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner is considered a Standardized Test (Popham). According to the Washington Post, the average public school student takes about eight tests per year. Taking these eight tests eats up about 20-25 hours of class time each year. The results from the tests are collected and compared. Results can be used to determine promotions, evaluate student needs and compare the student’s abilities. Although the ultimate debate about Standardized Testing is on how the tests are used, whether they present reliable or unreliable evaluations of student learning, the public has many more question(Concepts). Are Standardized Tests fair to all students? Do the benefits outweigh the costs? While some experts, one being Latasha Gandy, Minnesota Program Director for Students for Education Reform, believes that Standardized tests are good for children, families and schools. Other experts, including those at FairTest, believe that standardized testing damages education. A poll administered by …show more content…
According to Google Sites, the main goal of education is to set up students for success. Students progress needs to tracked, which is what president Bush had in mind when he started No Child Left Behind. Both sides of Standardized Tests want schools to thrive and teachers to help students. The world needs educated and well rounded citizens. We need to strive for a stronger, smarter and more sustainable generation. Right now our way to ensure that teachers are doing their job is test based. A teacher's ability is determined on how well his or her student does while being