I found an interesting article that compares the United States to top performing countries (Finland, and South Korea). This article suggests that maybe it is not actually the standardized tests that are the problem with our schools system, but rather the approach we are taking to standardized tests. In Finland they have the same amount (maybe even more) emphasis on testing. The difference is that these tests are much harder students are actually meant to take responsibility for the results of their tests. The article says that in America teachers and school administration are the ones sweating it out waiting for the test results, while the students sit back and take it easy. In Finland it is the students who are worried. It also talks about how American teachers are not given enough respect for their line of work. In Finland it is much harder to go to school to become a teacher. Teacher preparation schools only accept about 10% of applicants (similar to MIT). It also states that teachers in Finland are also far more knowledgeable and have more support and background when it comes to helping students to succeed.
If we are struggling so much with finding a way to assess our students then maybe we need to look at what works for other countries and tweak our system until we find one that helps us to improve.
http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=344AE6BA-FB34-11E0-B00E000C296BA163
This just goes to show the emphasis that america is putting on education. The teachers are the ones here who want the students to do amazing while some of the students just go into the tests taking them to take them. Finland teachers on the other hand like you stated do have the respect and is shown in the fact of pay, that they show emphasis on the test and the children there know that they need to do good on the test. Just so many unanswered questions in this nations education system.
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