“I’m sorry but you didn’t pass your states math test, so you are not graduating your class.” The worst words a person could hear. You’re not moving up a grade level or graduating high school because you did not pass your states tests which are what really determines a person. According to the school and the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT a person will not move on through their school until they pass this test. It’s a shame that a persons education career has now come down to whether or not they can take a test and pass. When you think about it, “real life” is not based on tests; it’s based on whether or not you have the skills and requirements to make it in that field and life. When I graduate from college everything that I have tested on in high school is not going to help me in the real world, but the schools don’t seem to understand or realize that. They only believe that passing that test is what really matters, when in reality its not whether or not I can pass a test, its on how well I can achieve success in real life. A woman by the name of Helen Thomas, who has been a journalist of every president since John F. Kennedy, has given her feelings on the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, and how to test a kid on something so trivial, when you have finally just taught them to pick up a fork, is nonsense. At my school, it’s all about passing the TEKS test, yet that test is not what I need for real life, I am never going to use that stuff again. In addition my TEKS test do not test me on what I am learning in my classes, especially because my school offers me higher up level classes, so I am being tested on material that I learned last year. The NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT only teaches kids what is on the test, so teachers are forced to teach to the test and not what they believe they need to teach, so children are no longer learning material that is significant to get them through life, but how to pass a test. Lets get rid of this fake learning and learn something useful.
Tired of Fake Testing
By eviltwin658 - Posted on February 24th, 2008
Absolutely correct. Having gone to a private school all my life, I have been spared from these tests. The No Child Left Behind Act, while a good idea, was never funded, run correctly, or used effectively, and ended up as another mess on the doorstep of our education system.
The whole premise behind the NCLBA was to inspire and encourage kids to try harder. The main problem is that it shouldn't fall to the government. It is the parents, not the government, and not even the school system, that are responsible for teach their children to learn and to have good study habits. The NCLBA fails to address the real issue at the core.
I hate No Child Left Behind as much as the next guy, as it makes schools teach to the test rather than quality information, as you said, yet most of those standardized tests are rediculously easy and if someone cannot pass it, they could get the attention they need to improve.
That's an excellent point. At my school we take CAT tests, just as a formality. They are incredibly easy and if you don't pass them, you have a problem.
Agreed. I also don't see why being tested over something that was "learned" the previous year is a problem. If you learned it last year, you should know it now. I hate it when students come to college with the idea that they are only responsible for what is being taught in that class. Yes, you have to know the old stuff as well.
I love abortion. Read more here:
http://progressiveu.org/044921-i-love-abortion-even-if-it-murder
I hate these tests also. Everybody learns differently, and why should one person be punished because they would be able to better express what they have learned in a speech or a poster or something other then a test that is thrown at students.
I conducted a research on the high states testing last year, and conducted a debate. It is suprising to see how many teachers actually like the testing. I am actually against it, I do not think it is fair for a child to go through highschool and have one test determine their tickit out. Tests bring a lot of anxiety to some students who know this test is their one ticket out. One thing that sparked a light in my mind is that if you have a student who doesn't do the work in class compared to a wonderful student who always turns in the work and does good on tests until the day of the high states testing. The student who sits in the corner and does nothing earns a good score compared to the good student, how can a test determine that? Also I would like to have the freedom to teach the exciting material there is to know about science and not have to go by a set curriculum, where's the fun in teaching then? But in the long run, I do agree with your statements.
It’s a shame that a persons education career has now come down to whether or not they can take a test and pass.
And yet, that's what a lot of college classes are. My biochem class was 4 tests, and the last test had a project. Cell bio was 4 tests. Senior Seminar was 2 presentations. Microbio (while a joke) is nothing but tests. My history classes are all either exclusively papers (one I had to write 2, 10 page papers, and those were our grade), or a combination of tests and papers (last semester was a midterm and final, plus 4, 5 page papers). Your ability to do well based on so few grades is a hallmark of college. True, it's not just one exam at the end of the class, but if you aren't good at taking tests or writing papers, you won't do well in a number of college classes.
~C
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