Are Standardized Tests a Good Thing???

I decided to talk about standardized tests because of the importance they currently hold in regards to students graduating from high school.  I have often wondered why is it fair that students in private schools do not have to take the MCAS and they can still graduate.  Is this an issue that shows prejudice?  Let’s face it, most poor people can not afford private schools. So, does this mean that the rich kids can graduate without meeting the same criteria as the kids who go to public schools?

The idea of standardized tests is not a bad idea.  However, when these tests have a high outcome like whether kids can graduate high school, then it becomes a problem.  Often students are not given a well rounded curriculum because teachers tend to teach the content of what’s on the test.  Too much attention is paid to the fact of whether or not students will pass the test.   Sadly, sometimes the quality of a teacher is decided on if his/her students pass the test.  Some school systems even link merit pay from the outcomes of tests.  This makes me wonder if this is fair.  What if one teacher gets an advanced group of students and another teacher does not?  High stakes tests do not determine a persons all around knowledge. 

Standardized tests should be used as a tool to help schools that need reform.  Very often schools that do poorly are punished.  Teachers can lose their jobs and funding for the schools is taken away.  What should happen is the schools that perform poorly should get assistance and more funds to help their school improve.  Few teachers have even admitted to cheating to improve test scores.  Most people do not want lower salaries because the results of their students’ tests were low.

One must also think of the emotional impact of failing the test has on the students.  Children wait their entire school career to graduate.  Then, if they do not pass the MCAS, they are told they will not get a diploma.  They get a certificate of completion.  What if a student really tried and worked hard?  How do you think they would feel if they were told they were failures?  The outcome of a diploma should not rest on this one test.  I am not saying to water down the curriculum.  I am saying offer these students numerous intervention groups, support staff, one on one tutors, and extra school hours to help them acquire more knowledge. 

            There are other faults with standardized tests.  Often the issue of diversity is overlooked.  Some problems that students may encounter is that the tests do not take into consideration issues such as stress, particular student disabilities, and the tests could be written to be biased to English speaking students.  Another important issue is socioeconomic status.  An example that comes to mind is perhaps the question is asking about the perimeter of placemats.  Perhaps the lower income family is too poor to afford placemats.  Then, the student does not even know what a placemat is. 

            Overall, standardized tests can be a good thing, if they are used to help teachers gauge their instruction.  If the assessments are used as a one shot deal against students then their purpose needs to be revisited.

Source used:  https://www.msu.edu/~youngka7/cons.html