Standardized tests are a reality in the public school systems in the United States. Children prepare the entire year in order to pass the standardized test. Children get further away from exploration and play and focus on developing skills in order to pass the test. Standardized tests are often biased, meaning that some children don't have the experiences or background understanding in order to comprehend what the test questions are asking. This is unfair as it is supposed to be assessing skills, but instead is assessing background knowledge or understanding. Often the math tests also become a reading test, requiring the children to read in order to demonstrate understanding of a math skill.
Tests among states also have different standards. The assessment taken in Maryland (MSA) is not the same assessment that is used in Mississippi or California. Therefore, a child that is considered proficient in Mississippi is not necessarily considered proficient in Maryland. If standardized testing is required, states should adopt national assessments or standards to hold all children and educators accountable at the same level.
I don't agree with the use of high stakes testing because of the reasons mentioned above. I do feel that children need to be assessed in academics (math, reading, social studies, sciences). In order for our country to be competitive in today's economy and with other countries, math, science, and technology need to have a huge emphasis. This can be achieved however, without the use of standardized testing. Assessments need to be used in order for children to demonstrate their independent understanding and as a tool for educators to use in order to continue developing the children.
I researched education in Finland. Finland incorporates play and learning to help master academic knowledge. They also emphasize optimal learning environments and establish content to best help students reach their instructional goals. Instruction is the key element that helps students learn, not standards or assessments. Finland also encourages and helps build strong, educated teachers. Nutrition, health services, psychological counseling, and guidance are regular elements of every school. The educational community in Finland is unconvinced that high-stakes testing increases student learning, but the Ministry of Education has introduced new measurements for schools and teachers where they are assessed and rewarded or sanctioned for performance.
Source:
Sahlberg, P. (2009). A short history of educational reform in Finland.
Thank you for sharing that information. If we looked at education the same way that Finland obviously does we would really be supporting the idea that the development of the whole child is important versus solely the academic skills.
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