The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing

A standardize test is a test given to students to measure what they have learned in school that year. A test like this puts stress on the students and the teachers. Students are pressured to achieve the standard levels of education while the teachers are concerned with keeping their job and making sure their students increase rate grows. Standardize testing is a problem that students have to deal with starting at an early age in school. In 2002, President George W. Bush implemented a standardized testing program called the No Child Left Behind Policy (McMahon). There is a high demand by legislators and citizens for higher test scores and better school performance. This is a good policy to have; however, it is based upon standardize testing

For example, “A survey of 1,500 National Education Association teacher members found that nearly three out of four (72 percent) teachers felt moderate to extreme pressure from their school and administrators to improve their standardized test scores” (Zimmer). Teachers feel stress and pressure, because the standardize testing of their students impact their salaries and job stabilities. If students do not grow throughout the year in their testing the rating of a teacher decreases (Zimmer). This is not fair, because if students are already advanced their testing scores are not going to increase if they have already reached their max level. Educators also are stressed about preparing the material. Teachers spend more time making sure their students know certain materials only for testing instead of teaching the students informational things. This lowers the about of instructional time that the children need in a classroom (Smith). Educators should teach helpful information to their students not material just so they can pass a standardize test. Teachers should not have to be stressed about their job just because of what someone stays are a basic standard for a