Argument Against Standardized Testing

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At the end of last year, sometime in May I think, we were taking the PARCC1 test. During the English portion I got writers block. SO BAD. I was completely unable to write anything for the test. My English teacher Mrs. Skybiak noticed me not writing and was concerned. I assumed it was because something like this hadn’t happened during her class through the entire year. She asked “Do you need to go for a walk?” I sobbed a little bit and left the room and walked over to the bathroom and calmed down a little. Over the course of the next few days, until we went back to test, I was trying to ignore my failed attempt to complete the written test and avoid it at all costs. That didn’t happen. I was intercepted by Mrs. Skybiak and Mr. Wofford in the …show more content…
The standardized tests place a burden on students to perform well. The school receives funding based on the scores so “This adds an extra pressure on public schools to constantly evaluate their performance,” (Columbia University). Teachers convey the need to perform well to their students, placing additional pressure on the students. Due to the teacher being evaluated on their students’ performance on the tests, it is inevitable that they will change their teaching style to improve their students test results. This change in teaching styles is often known as teaching to the test. Many teachers try to teach what skills and information the students should know for the test, removing creativity from the classroom. In a survey that I conducted, 81% answered “Yes” to the question “Does standardized testing negatively affect the teaching environment?” (Myers Survey). Many believe that the standardized tests cause a negative shift in the classroom, most likely due to teachers teaching to the test. The pressure on both teachers and students create an unfair evaluation system for