Schools: Do We Really Need More Testing?
by In any location in the world, whether you’re referring to the slums and ghettoes in the boweries of New York, the suburban schools on the West Coast, or in the villages of Darfur, increasing rigorous testing of students to determine their literacy levels is ineffective and counter-productive.
Should schools require more rigorous testing of students to determine literacy levels?
After having done plenty of testing in my days, I can personally attest to the fact that testing doesn’t determine your literacy “level,” or where you should be “placed.” Anything from a headache to a breakup a day, week, or even month before the literacy test can throw you off-track.
Not only that, but certain children can and may have learning disabilities- dyslexia, autism, etc.- how is testing going to help children that can barely help themselves? How is testing going to prove anything but the fact that you may or may not have gotten lucky with guessing, or may or may not have studied “enough?”
Countless percentages from reputable sources such as the United States Treasury Regulation or the yearly census testing collection have recorded and summarized that testing is not an effective way of determining a child’s academic weaknesses and/or proficiencies. Testing, although it is an “easy” way to gain a rough estimate of where a child should be, is not accurate- many people are also just not good test takers.
I have interacted with innumerable students that excel in math, literacy, and even physical education- but when it comes down to math tests, pop-quizzes on literacy, or even the occasional random running assessment in P.E., they blow it. Which, as you grow older it also means that you could seriously damage your overall grade. It could also mean that you don’t get into that college that you’ve wanted to go to ever since 3rd grade.
So why increase literacy testing? Instead of putting students in little desks with pencils and having them stare at tests both of you know they couldn’t give a hoot about, try interacting with them. Try to observe their trends- maybe their patterns of how they work, whether that helps you notice a weakness or strength. Some people are great at tests, and some people aren’t. Some people have learning disabilities: some people don’t. Evidently, testing isn’t going to go away, at least in this century. But we certainly don’t have to increase it.
Liked it
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Post CommentPreston Carew
On June 9, 2009 at 9:26 am
I don’t think we need more testing, we need better testing. Less multiple choice, and more thought provoking tests, not only to see what kids know but to increase their knowledge and thinking process. Good article
Daisy Peasblossom
On June 9, 2009 at 9:56 am
Believe me, the teachers hate those tests as much as you do. They intrude upon our instruction time and our ability to do just what you have outlined here. However, having said that, these same tests have focused teaching. This can be good or bad, but it has cut out some of the sillier stuff from the classroom. Also, if you take an ACT test in New York or in Missouri or California, it is still the same test. Until someone devises a lid on students heads that lets us lift it and look in to see what they have learned, we will have tests.
Fresh Writing
On June 9, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Thank you guys (Daisy and Preston) for reading this article! I don’t doubt, Daisy, that teachers hate tests just as much as students do…I haven’t taken an ACT test, as I am over here on the West Coast unfortunately, but I do agree with you- until someone, or something, creates a new “system” of testing or a new way to look inside students’ heads and see what they have learned, we will continue to have tests.
Preston, I do in part agree with you- we need new forms of testing. To increase knowledge and to improve their thought process…
Thanks to both of you guys for reading this! Hopefully more will express their thoughts and opinions on this.
Kind regards,
-Fresh Writing
nekkoli
On June 9, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I totally agree with you,I was a lousy test taker because I’m nervous when it comes time to take it but had fantastic grades otherwise, increasing testing only stresses the student out more and possibly making performance even worse so I feel it’s
not needed, and if your doing multiple choice how can this prove anything, that maybe I lucked up and guessed correctly, the quality of testing needs to be improved not adding more mindless multiple choice test!
Mrs M
On June 9, 2009 at 6:41 pm
A huge obvious problem with schools in general is the teacher to student ratio. Unfortunately a lot of things ride on test scores and it really shouldn’t be like that. I know brilliant people who couldn’t get into the college they wanted to because of their ACT and SAT scores. Does this mean they were not worthy of being admitted? No! Another issue is because the teacher to student ratio is so messed up in public schools, kids are not getting the help that they really need and may fall behind in certain areas because of it.
clay hurtubise
On June 9, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Test have their place and purpose, but enough already!
Thanks,
Clay
Victoria
On June 9, 2009 at 7:43 pm
I believe we do not need more testing its aggravating. We already waste enough time by children who do not listen or cause trouble and then teacher who has to make a speech and discipline so that takes some time and its time to speak up i would rather be home schooled than go to a public school. I have yet to endure private school so maybe its better but of course in any school theirs gonna be some trouble maker and the tests so if we were all home schooled we could all be beyond achievement.
Hello Kylie
On June 10, 2009 at 9:56 am
I remember my days io TOEFL and SAT I and SAT II test marathons when I thought that I should take all of the exams more than once. It turns out, my first results were the highest. By the time I was taking SAT II for the second time I was emotionally and intellectually exhausted by all the practice tests, essays and readings I had done. So increased amount of testing is definitely counterproductive. But the one good point there is to it is that it prepares you for college. Cos it was during by undergrad midterm and finals weeks when I realized that school was like a walk in the park that in no way prepared me for what was to come in college.
hollynoel001
On June 12, 2009 at 11:07 pm
i think is schools put as much effort into teaching children what they need to know as they do preparing for these “tests” we would probably be the smartest nation in the world
Ruby Hawk
On June 14, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I agree, just look at the average grades for the full year and you will get a true picture of the students ability.
Juhls
On June 17, 2009 at 7:48 am
It seems that some schools are more focused on getting kids to pass exams. This can be too focused on artifical assessments, and makes it easy to forget the big picture, which is helping kids being ready for real life. To be adaptable and equipped to make decisions, while using their knowledge of math, science, language, and the arts in everyday situations.
OhSugar
On June 22, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I do not think we need more testing, but some testing is necessary. The The pressure on the students to do well on tests creates students with serious stress related problems.
Rod Ferrandino
On June 24, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I’ve been a substitute (k-12), along with my wife, for a number of years, and almost all teachers I know do not like a situation in which “teaching to the test” has become the prescribed norm, much to the detriment of teaching the actual subject. “No millionaire’s child left behind”, highlights what goes wrong when the standardized tests become the be-all and end-all of education.
Having said this, I do believe that some form of standardized testing, properly handled, would be beneficial.
Good article, FW, and keep up the good work.
dee gold
On June 25, 2009 at 6:34 am
Good work,fresh
WriteEditSeek
On June 25, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I totally agree with Rod Ferrandino. I’ve worked in educational publishing for a number of years as an editor, and the emphasis in public schools today is on “teaching to the test” to the detriment of actual learning. The company that I worked for published social studies textbooks. However, since many states don’t test social studies, many teachers don’t teach history! There’s only so much time in the day, so teachers have to spend it on the subjects that will be tested. What will happen to our country when the next generation has no sense of history? Scary, very scary.
rizzei
On June 27, 2009 at 4:09 am
nice point:)..sometimes literacy testings are done for formality alone..
great topic:)
alc
On July 13, 2009 at 4:16 pm
you have a great point!!! I think there is enough testing in school and enough is enough!!!
Anne McNew
On July 13, 2009 at 8:22 pm
…I think teachers in school should only serve as facilitator to student’s learning.
Questions must be highly intellectual to check on the thinking and learning capacity of the individual.
Nice write.
Brenda Nelson
On July 16, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Testing only shows a students ability to write tests.. not their learning.
Mark Gordon Brown
On July 16, 2009 at 10:12 pm
SATs (in the USA) suck, if you are sick that day and not feeling well your mark can screw you up for a while.