Of course standardized testing makes sense. All students are taught the same subjects by teachers who have all thoroughly studied that subject, therefore all students thoroughly know what they’re learning. Because of that, if they don’t score well on a test, that must be due to the student slacking off and being lazy. These teachers put their heart and soul into teaching and their students should at least meet them halfway. As NBA Hall of Fame Isiah Thomas states in his article for the distinguished Huffington Post, “The facts are simple. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need to be college and career ready in the 21st century.” As a successful, well-known athlete who has made something of himself and even entered the esteemed NBA Hall of Fame, Thomas’s stance on the Common Core curriculum and standardized tests definitely makes sense, no? If he can make it through standardized school and become successful, he’s a great role model for students everywhere. He shows that if you study hard and achieve high marks on these tests, you’ll be able to achieve your dream career because you’ll have all the tools you’ll need for a successful future because you learned how to calculate for y=mx+b, even if you don’t end up on a math or science career path.
Because these tests are standardized, schools nationwide are able compare how their students perform against others in their age group. Through this, school systems are able to improve by pinpointing certain weaknesses in their very own teaching structure and students are motivated to become better. These tests are in place to help students feel motivated to study and achieve great marks on subjects like reading, writing, math, and science. Just look at South Korea: they rank close to first in math and science education year after year and they implement standardized testing, as well. They even include inter-school rankings so peers can stack themselves up against each other. It’s friendly competition that motivates them to study harder and improve themselves instead of being lazy. This helps them when it comes time for college entrance exams so that they can do their very best and, hopefully, get into South Korea’s top universities. Since many high paying jobs in that nation only focus on if you attended a top university or not, scoring extremely well on these entrance exams is crucial. Standardized tests certainly have helped prepare these students, and since our universities here in America also judge prospective applicants based off of exams like the SAT and the ACT, it’s a no-brainer that a curriculum based on standardized tests will help our own students perform better for their future. You’re worried about the fact that South Korea also has one of, if not the highest, percentages of teen suicides in the developed world due to over competition, peer bullying, and high expectations? Well, mental health is a serious issue and testing can actually help decrease anxiety!
According to reputable U.S. News article written by completely unbiased author Sonya Ellis, who has a degree in literature and creative writing and is a tutor for subjects like the SAT, the ACT, and the GRE, repeat testing actually decreases testing anxiety and performance paranoia. She argues that becoming more familiar with the layout and expectations of standardized tests increases student test-taking confidence, which makes sense. It’s like learning how to ride a bike. You have your training wheels, which is equivalent to practice tests and curriculum aid, and you’ll get comfortable with those. Initially, you’ll be scared and worried to ride without them but once you gain more confidence you won’t need them. If you fall, you just get back up and practice more until you get the hang of things. No big deal. After all, practice makes perfect, and even if you suffer from clinically diagnosed anxiety or learning disabilities, this is a surefire way to overcome any education obstacle. If you’re not succeeding, well, then you’re just not practicing or trying hard enough.
Tiffany's ENG206 blog 