group editorial

Corruption in the Classroom: Why Exhaustive Testing Will Be the Downfall of American Education

           

Test Scores and Scandal

            Judging by recent events, standardized testing in American schools proves disastrous to our students. In March, The New York Times broke the story of the Atlanta, Georgia school district whose once soaring test scores landed them in the middle of a massive cheating scandal. Standardized tests given to evaluate student performance and educator success had their scores altered by a select group of teachers know as “The Chosen.” The altered scores earned the schools thousands of dollars in funding, and nationwide recognition for their stellar performance. The recognition they’re receiving shows this is just another casualty in the war on education.

            When it comes to student achievement, performance now falls on teachers. Funding is only promised to top performers, and when teachers do not meet these standards, schools become “at risk.” This methodology puts the focus on memorization and testing, rather than learning, and it’s proving to be a disaster in the classroom.

The Finns Can Do It- So Why Can’t We?

            According to a 2011 Smithsonian, Finnish schools only require students to take one exam at the end of their senior year. Their educators are all university graduates, and education is publically funded. The school system provides health care, food, and transportation for its students. The goal is to provide an equal opportunity for all students anywhere in the country, which they accomplish with a “whatever it takes” attitude. Struggling students receive private tutoring if necessary. Students are not ranked amongst their peers, eliminating the academic competition so familiar to American education.

            Finland was a struggling country that recognized its need for an overhaul in education. Without it, the country would have fallen behind other nations. Instead, Finland is ranked in the top spot, with a small margin between their highest and lowest level learners. The country committed to providing students with anything they needed in order to learn—so why can’t America do the same?

Teachers and Students Have Had Enough- And They’re Not Keeping Quiet About It Anymore

This April, Chicago high school students boycotted standardized tests. Students from over 25 public schools participated, with the message that they are “over-tested, under-resourced, and fed up.” And these students are right: from early elementary school all the way through applying for college. Keeping students in school should be a priority for all school districts, but endless testing is just another way to drive them out.

It would seem that the outcry from students and teachers alike would be enough change the system, but breaking the cycle proves difficult. Not complying to give the exam puts teachers’ jobs at risk.

The bottom line is standardized tests aren’t working the way they were intended, instead driving educators to cheat, and students to become disheartened with learning.