Through standardized testing such as Scholastic Aptitude Test, Missouri Assessment Program, and American College Tests may seem like the perfect way to prepare students for the academic future, by providing a better chance at gaining a better education, schools should be focused more on improving skills of the students, rather than forced testing. In the article, “The Case Against Grades” by Alfie Kohn, an american author in the area of education, he emphasizes that administrators put more focus on grades, rather than the learning foundation. Furthermore, In the essay “The Big Score” by Daniel McGinn, a Newsweek national correspondent, he states the battle between high school students and teachers over the value of creativity concerning…show more content… I remember the very first time that I received my first bad letter grade. It was my fifth grade year at Johnson Elementary School, a decent sized public school in Kansas City, Missouri. After a week's worth of studying, and dozens of YouTube videos on how to add, and divide fractions I managed to fail my math exam with a 45%. I knew that the MAP test, that tested over everything I learned throughout the year was only 4 weeks away. Not only did this affect my self esteem. But, it effected on how I looked at mathematics. I didn’t gain any interest in this particular subject. As a student, I just knew that I would never get above less than average grade letters in math class, no matter how much I tried. Until, this very day my haunting sixth grade math assignment looks at me in horror from my box of school collection items. I look at it as a reminder that I really
