How has a well motivated and seemingly benign government requirement to administer standardized tests to grade school students had unintended and malicious consequences?

Answer 1

Much of the curriculum is now based on the standardized testing and as a result many students are not getting a well rounded curriculum. Two subjects are being taught in most schools and they are reading and math. The books are based on the test and the teachers are told that they have to cut art, music, recess, social studies, science to prepare the classes for the testing. The tests are not based on child development or theories of learning so as a consequence they are testing students on advanced learning that they are unable grasp. The tests are testing primary students using abstract thinking questions and they are in concrete thinking modality. This means the student is unable to understand the concepts or retain the information. A fifth grade student in CA is required to know the Periodic Table of elements and how to read a chemical formula . When giving the test, it takes a week, most students are crying and upset by the third day of testing. They give up, draw pictures with the answer bubbles, or mark "C" on every question. They know they can't answer the questions because the questions aren't made to be answered. If too many students start to get too many questions correct the testing company changes the questions so they can't pass. The test is designed for the students and the teachers to fail. As a teacher I don't mind having my students tested, but the test should be fair and it should be written so my students can answer the questions to show what they know. The tests today do not do this and our children's education is suffering because of it. This doesn't improve learning it does the opposite. A new factor is now starting in education and it will effect the children to a larger degree. Because of the problems with many state budgets the school districts are now pushing older teachers out of the system and hiring interns. The interns are people who have not completed teacher education and are paid less than a regular teacher. The consequence of this will be whole school systems will have new teachers on staff, but won't have mentors on the staff to help them. They won't have the theories of education and learning or the background needed to teach classes of 30 students per grade. Add the testing to this and many children will fall behind in their learning and not have the skills as they move into each grade. As a parent you have the right to have your child not tested with the state mandated testing. This is something the state doesn't want you to know because teachers are told before testing not to tell you. I am breaking that rule as I write this. To have your child removed from state testing all you have to do is write a statement stating that you don't want your child tested and sign it. I hope I have answered your question, but you would like to know more please drop me a note on here.