Standardized testing
An argument against the use of standardized tests Standardized are used extensively in the education system throughoutthe United States. These tests are being used to evaluate the academicperformance of students, the proficiency of teachers, and the effectivenessof schools. The results of these tests indicate tracking, grade promotion,and intellectual levels of individual students, as well as how worthycertain schools are of receiving funding from the government. Loomingstandardized tests dominate classroom instruction time, and thereforepushed subjects deemed "unnecessary", such as physical education, art, andmusic, to the back burner, while teachers focus on tedious exercises anddrills that may only serve to provide decent test scores, but nothing muchelse. Overall, standardized tests create an environment of inequality inour schools, in which students who know how to respond well on tests excel,while other students, who may be equally as creative, knowledgeable, andsharp, do poorly because they haven't refined their test taking skills.Categorizing and labelling students based on scores from standardized testsis a dangerous practice, which could have far-reaching and long la
This belief isoften validated by school and district policies, as well as administrativemandates. " This author explainsalternative methods for the evaluation of students' progress, includingportfolios and learning fairs. Also, there tends to bedisagreement as to whether particular tests even measure what they aredesigned to assess. Theseprofiles were designed to be used as diagnostic tools to determine theareas that students need help in and the type of work required to promotethe growth of students. These authors explain how minority or othertraditionally underserved populations of students may respond negatively toinstruction geared toward preparation of students for state test. According to the study, test scores are subject to many types ofhuman and statistical errors, and therefore do not provide a truereflection of the students' abilities. Many people do consider these tests and effective tool formonitoring and shaping up public schools. An alternative to standardized tests was proposed, that identifiedprofiles of student behaviors, which addressed 20 behavioral patterns inthe three areas of intellectual development, skills, and attitudes. Labelling students as "below average" according only toresults of standardized tests can have devastating effects on students'confidence, motivation, and future achievement. The authorpoints out the importance that policy makers consider carefully what isbeing assessed by the test they mandate, as well as the impact that theconsequent labels may have on children. Overall, findings indicated thatstandardized tests were unfair. First, high-stakes testing weakens academic standards when the test becomes theeducation program.
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