Test Obsessed Education Wont Move Us Ahead - Essay Example

No Child Left Behind: Test Obsessed Education Won’t Move Us Ahead David Marshak, in his article, ‘No Child Left Behind: Test Obsessed Education Won’tMove Us Ahead” argues that the present school educational system in the United States should be overhauled. The educational system which is the product of the “industrial model of education devised during the first two decades of the twentieth century,” (Marshak, David, 2003) has far outlived its utility. He is very critical of the standardized testing system in general and in schools in particular. He believes that “it may take only a few years before parents become sufficiently enraged with standardized –test obsession to demand an end to it. Perhaps, a rebellion against this standardized will open the door to the reshaping of our schools and the implementation of much more sophisticated and effective accountability measures.” (Marshak, David, 2003). He further adds that we need to reinvent education by teaching students how to be creative, which requires long term relationship between students and teachers. So the present system of changing teachers every 50 minutes should be stopped and teachers be appointed for one to two year to develop personal relationship with students. Students should also have common learning goals and individuals learning goals. Moreover, he believes that in future curriculum should include synthesis, problem solving, creativity, and analysis promote inventive thinking. Though some of his ideas seem to be good, it may not be practical one. In order to understand the hollowness in his arguments against standardized testing system, one should know how it functions. A test which is conducted in a standard manner is called a standardized test. This testing system gauges candidates against one another and a standard is fixed to assess progress in a school, aptitude to attend institutions of higher education and to put candidates in programs suited to their aptitude. These tests are designed in a special way that rules for conducting, questions, interpretations, and scoring pattern are reliable and conducted and scored in a prearranged, standard manner. United States enacted elementary and secondary education act, 1965 which made it mandatory standardized testing in public schools. In 2001, United States passed US Public Law 107- 110, which is also called ‘No Child Left Behind Act of 2001’, which binds public school funding to standardized testing. It consists of true- false and multiple-choice questions. Generally, it is a computer adaptive test. Some standardized testing have essay writing and short answer components which are evaluated by impartial examiners who use sample answer papers to evaluate it. But a number of standardized tests are not scored by people. Critique argues that though tests are examined for clear bias, offensive terms and hidden biases can never be eliminated and there is little scope for demonstrating candidates skills in reasoning, critical thinking, deductive logic and creativity. Moreover “as a result of standardized tests and teacher decision making, high numbers of students of color are placed in low-ability and non college-bound tracks.” (Karen B. Mclean Donaldson, Praeger, 1996). But all these arguments need further proof to substantiate it. One of the main advantages of the standardized testing system is that the results can be practically documented. So the test scores have a high degree of reliability. Some other advantages of these tests are “the standardization of these tests ensures that test-takers are being measured objectively on the same material. The grading is standardized, so test scores are the same no matter who or what is scoring them. This removes any bias that might stem from the scorer. On the other hand, tests that use subjective grading might yield scores that vary widely depending on who is scoring them.” (Standardized Testing Advantages). In the absence of standardized testing system there is a possibility of disorder in the educational system due to different educational culture, curriculum, difference in teaching style and grading system. It makes standardized testing system unavoidable for admissions purposes in higher education where an institution has to evaluate students from across the nation. Another advantage is aggregation. It provides an assessment of students command over subjects. However some of educationists say that misuse of standardized testing system can have serious negative consequences, since standardized testing system is the most important factor in accountability, there may be tendency to use the testing system to define curriculum. But these are not valid reasons for abandoning the system rather it is a criticism of poorly designed testing regimes. Standardized Testing System is cheap, very fast to grade and allow decision makers to look at a wide sample of individuals. One of the fundamental ideas of standardized testing is to eradicate subjective factors from assessment. As a result, it makes the decisions of the admissions committee easier as they need to compare and evaluate hundreds of students who take these tests. Moreover, it is very helpful in predicting how well students perform in the institutions they applied. It will also forecast success more accurately than interview. One of the main purposes of this test is to compare the aptitude and skills of students from various schools. For example, the admission committee will have candidate’s grade point average, but there is a possibility that one school might give easier course material than the other one. So how can the admission committee compare the abilities and skills of different candidates? “By measuring students on the same skills and knowledge, standardized tests give admissions committees a more objective assessment of students’ potential performance at the schools to which they are applying. Some argue that standardized tests only reinforce cultural bias in education, but these tests nonetheless provide a valuable tool for admissions committees.” (Standardized Tests 101.com). One of the arguments of David Marshak is that public has become highly dissatisfied with standardized testing system. But Richard P Phelps writes “public support for widespread and consequential use of standardized testing is overwhelming, and has been since pollsters first posed questions about tests. Over several decades, the scale of the large magnitude of public support has barely budged. Indeed, the public would like to see standardized tests administered: more often (more than once a year), and for all the purposes for which they are now administered, as well as some for some others.” (Phelps, Richard P. 2004). Summary David Marshak strongly argues the need for overhauling the present school educational system in United States. He also wants this system to be abolished as these tests have little scope for demonstrating candidates skills in reasoning, critical thinking, deductive logic, and creativity, for reinventing education by making students creative. In order to do so, he advocates developing personal relationship between students and teachers. The ideas seem good, but may not be practical. Moreover, his criticism about standardized testing system has gone overboard, as abolition of the system may entail total chaos in the school educational system. It is the most feasible method to evaluate students who come from different educational culture, curriculum, difference in teaching style and grading system. Moreover, for selecting candidates for higher education, educational institutions need to evaluate candidates based on their aptitude. It is also cheap, very fast to grade, and allow decision makers to look at large number of candidates. Though no testing system is fool proof, and standardized testing has its limitations, among the existing circumstances, it is the best. Syllogism Reason A 1. Standardized testing system should be allowed to continue in United States. 2. Standardized tests are designed in a special way that rules for conducting, scoring pattern, questions and interpretations are reliable and carried out in a prearranged, standard manner. 3. Standardized testing system should not be abolished. Reason B 1. Standardized tests should continue in schools in United States. 2. It ensures that all students are examined objectively 3. Therefore standard testing system should continue. Conclusion From the above, it becomes obvious that David’s criticism of the standardized testing system is not based on sound logic and therefore cannot be agreed to. It is a time tested system which has been instrumental in assessing students and its abolition will only be detrimental to the education system. The best suggestion seems to be to find ways to make the system more effective if there are any defects in it. Works Cited Marshak, David. No Child Left Behind: Test Obsessed Education Won’t Move Us Ahead. 8 Feb. 2003. Seattle Times. Fine, Michelle., and Lois, Weis r. 1993. Beyond Silenced Voices: Class, Race, and Gender in United States Schools. NY: State University of New York Press: Albany. p. 45. Karen B. Mclean Donaldson, Praeger. (1996). Through Students Eyes: Combating Racism in United States Schools. Westport: CT. Publication. p.16 Standardized Testing Advantages. Standardized Tests 101.com. 2006. 21 Apr. 2007. . Standardized Tests 101.com. 21 Apr. 2007. . Phelps, Richard P. (2004). Defending Standardized Testing. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, NJ. Publication. p.21. Read More