What's Wrong with Standardized Tests and How They Can Be Fixed

Something happened about the time I was leaving high school...the well intentioned government of my state (as well as others) decided to jump into the middle of public education. And they came up with the ever popular Standardized Test.

You see, government decided to make sure that what students were learning in school was up to the highest standards, so they had tests made up that would cover all the points of a particular subject. This would check the knowledge of the student, and later on help decide whether the student passed or failed a class.

I suppose this would be ok if government had left it at that. A simple test to judge if a student comprehends the subject is not a bad idea. But then again, I had always thought that students were already tested by the teacher to gauge their understanding. I had always thought that was what those things called 'tests' and 'exams' were for, but what do I know.

Ok, I could see the point of a test that is the same for all students within the entire state. But I do wonder if a standard test, that is the same for all students, was created to make sure the students understand or if the teachers are properly teaching.

I believe it is the later, and teachers have figured this out as well. The state wants to see how well the teachers are teaching. And if you don't believe that, then you don't have to look much further than the reward system that was put in place. They get extra money if their students do well. And of course, to the government, students' doing well equals teachers teaching properly. How naïve they are.