Standardized testing has long been a staple in education systems worldwide, often used as a tool for measuring student achievement and assessing the effectiveness of teaching methods. However, the practice has sparked a heated debate over its true value in shaping the future of education. While some argue that standardized tests provide an objective and efficient way to evaluate student performance, others think that they fail to capture the full range of students’ abilities and may even create a loss of creativity and critical thinking. This essay will explore both sides of the argument and offer a perspective on whether standardized testing is truly beneficial in school systems.
Mrs.McShane, a high school English teacher at IHS and a mother of 3 young children had lots to say about whether she as a teacher and a mother thought standardized testing was more or less beneficial for students. Mrs.McShane exclaimed, “I think there are some benefits to it and for me those benefits include: it will give teachers some data to see where our students are doing well and where they need help. From a student view, I think there is a benefit from taking tests such as those and having to perform well when under pressure.”
Standardized testing is such a split debate nowadays. At the end of last year there was a vote casted throughout the state of Massachusetts that was letting residents decide whether or not they felt schools should keep or get rid of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), Mrs.Mcshane said, “I believe it is important for there to be some sort of standard to graduate high school”. But According to The Boston Globe 59% of voters felt that the MCAS should not be required as the other 41% were opposed to getting rid of it.
Not only did I talk to a teacher I also talked to a student about how she felt regarding standardized testing. Senior Avery Brown gave some good insight on how students see standardized testing. I asked some general questions about how she felt about standardized testing and I got quite a lot of negative feedback from her saying, “I am not a good test taker so it doesn’t accurately represent my knowledge and understanding in school.”and “These tests stress me out to the point where I can’t even think when I am being tested.” These quotes clearly indicate that taking these standardized tests do not feel beneficial and cause almost only stress.
In conclusion, standardized testing in school systems has both advantages and drawbacks. On the positive side, it provides a uniform measure of student achievement, allows for objective comparisons across schools and regions, and can highlight areas in need of improvement. However, the drawbacks include the narrowing of the curriculum, increased student stress, and the potential for reinforcing inequalities, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. While standardized testing can be a useful tool for assessment, it should be implemented with caution and complemented by other forms of evaluation to ensure a more broad understanding of student learning and development.
