Plato's Argument Against Standardized Testing
Introduction A frantic student gazes up at the clock, noting the nondescript posters covering almost every inch of the bulletin board. With five minutes to spare, the student hurriedly flips over the testing packet to the first page and begins checking over her work a second time. When time is called, the student sighs in relief, knowing that she has finished her last standardized test and is done with testing for the year. Or is she? While the test itself may be complete, its impacts have only begun. If she fails, she may be required to retake the year. Unknown to the student, her scores will likely be plugged into a complex statistical analysis which will be used to determine state performance, and potentially impact her school and teacher. …show more content…
According to Plato, reason, and the capability to think, is the highest quality a human can possess. In the Allegory of the Charioteer, Plato claims, “every soul of man has in the way of nature beheld true being.” However, due to a focus on earthly matters or other factors, “all souls do not easily recall the things of the other world.” For him, striving to be rational and thus reach the World of Forms was the purpose, or telos. To achieve this end, Plato believed that education was essential. Through teaching capable students to be more rational, and thus closed to the true forms of Good and Just, they would contribute positively to the improvement of …show more content…
In identifying why these standardized tests exist, the hope is to generate a metric which will be used to analyze whether the current standardized testing system is sufficient and identify both areas of strength and weakness. The ultimate hope is to answer the question, “What is the purpose of state-mandated standardized tests for public elementary and middle schools, and how well to they fulfill this purpose,” and by doing so, improve standardized
Standardized Testing Argumentative Essay
1229 Words | 5 PagesStandard testing is a very controversial and important subject because it deals with the progression of the American education system. The practice of these assessments has been highly scrutinized not only for the way it has changed the format of classrooms, but also for its accuracy, pressure, and abundance. In 2001, standardized testing became federally mandated through the No Child Left Behind Act by former president George Bush Jr. According to research from the Council of the Great City Schools, students have been taking “an average of 113 tests from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade” (K. Hefling). These numbers have increased to the point where parents have opted for their children to not attend standardized exams.
Why Is Standardized Testing Wrong
837 Words | 4 PagesInstead, the boss will present a problem and expect its employees to come up with solutions to this problem , anticipated to be presented for discussion later that week. It is expected, in whatever career, to know simple skills like problem solving and even how to write a well-educated report based on research. Many schools have switched over to standardized testing as an accurate measure of a student’s, teacher, and a school’s success. However, evidence shows that standardized tests lead to stress, most importantly,
Standardized Testing Research Paper
895 Words | 4 PagesStandardized tests are very common in today’s modern society. They are used as a tool to measure a person’s performance and indicate how their estimated performance will be in a college class. Every year hundreds of students take the ACT or SAT in order to get accepted into their college of choice and to receive scholarships, but they fail to see the problems with these standardized tests. As more and more people take these tests, the national average score falls causing doubt in the extremely important system. This is leading people to question whether or not the ACT and SATs are accomplishing what they were created to do.
Standardized Testing Argumentative
1334 Words | 6 PagesStandardized Testing hurts children who think in different ways. This is quoted by Valerie Strauss, who makes a great point by saying children can only learn by the way it 's taught and it cannot be learned from other sources. Standardized Testing limits what children can learn and how they learn. Schools also spend an extraordinary amount on testing that could be going to better education and more funding to arts and extracurricular activities. Although, some say standardized testing is beneficial to the way students learn, statistics show that this is simply not true, standardized testing adds unnecessary stress on students, suppresses their creativity, and limits the creativity of teachers.
The Argument Against Standardized Testing In Texas
1597 Words | 7 PagesThe state of Texas has been in a constant struggle within itself over just how to evaluate education, and standardized testing in Texas has been a major influencer in terms of the state’s standards for over thirty years. Though these methods of testing have been utilized for decades, resentment to the tests have been continuously rising among educators, parents, and students, but not everyone agrees. Despite government officials trying to quell these protests with changes to administration, and the way the test itself is formatted and formulated, there seems to have been little to no improvement made and those opposing the tests have started calling for an end to all standardized testing. For one to truly understand this ongoing struggle, one must first look at standardized testing’s beginning, then how government today is trying to fix the broken system, and finally consider the opinions of notable figures in the testing world.
Essay On Limiting Standardized Testing
573 Words | 3 PagesThe average American student takes about 112 standardized tests between pre-kindergarten and 12th grade (Strauss). A standardized test is any form of test that requires the student to answer the same selection of common questions in a consistent matter, which makes it possible to compare relative student performance. Standardized tests restrict creativity, waste time, and waste money. We should get rid of standardized tests in our school system. Standardized tests limit a student’s ability to express creativity.
Kristina Rizga's Argument Against Standardized Testing
804 Words | 4 PagesAll students dread one thing when it comes to school - testing. Standardized test are the main focus in our school systems instead of actually gaining knowledge at the end of the year. As a mother, Michelle Rhee, understands the lack of attention given on education as a whole instead of just waiting on the scores, but she still agrees on continuing with standardized test. Kristina Rizga opposes the opinion of Michelle Rhee as she does not believe standardized test truly measure the intelligence of a student. Kristina Rizga proves her stand against standardized test by utilizing solid use of argumentation.
High Stakes Testing Persuasive Essay
526 Words | 3 PagesThe accountability of the scores is meant to encourage teachers to adopt better and more effective methods of teaching, as well as to urge students to work harder. However the effects are more detrimental. Because of testing, students are more likely to be frustrated and discouraged at having to move so fast to cover all the ground needed. If a student is having a bad day or just is not a good test taker, all anyone can say is “tough luck.” The teachers will only focus on the select subjects tested on, and then only the select aspects they believe will be covered in the testing.
Standardized Testing In Public Schools
1191 Words | 5 PagesSchool’s are using standardized testing for the wrong reason. “A standardized test is any examination that’s administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner. There are two major kinds of standardized tests: aptitude tests and achievement tests” (Popham, 1999). The most common examples of aptitude tests are the SAT and the
Arguments Against Standardized Testing
1247 Words | 5 PagesArgument Paper 1 In our society, there is constant pressure on high schoolers to be the perfect student so that they can get into college. One of the pressures that school systems put on their students is standardized testing, such as the ACT and SAT. Standardized tests are an issue because they are quantitative measurements that ignore qualitative evaluations of students. Although there is no way to make the college application process stress-free, eliminating standardized tests will stop objectifying students and promote inclusivity.
Thesis Statement: The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing
1749 Words | 7 PagesIntroduction Standardized tests may be used for a wide variety of educational purposes. For example, they may be used to determine a young child’s readiness for kindergarten, identify students who need special-education services or specialized academic support, place students in different academic programs or course levels, or award diplomas and other educational certificates. Thesis Statement Standardized tests should not be eliminated completely, but should rather be evaluated in addition to other factors such as grades, extracurricular activities, and volunteer hours. This would take pressure off of students during standardized tests, allow colleges to see how well-rounded the students are, and give students who are better in other areas
Why Is Standardized Testing Wrong
1960 Words | 8 PagesStandardized Tests: Right or Wrong? Diane Ravitch, a historian of education, once said that, “sometimes the most brilliant and intelligent students do not shine in standardized tests because they do not have standardized minds.” These tests have been a part of American education since the mid-1800s(Is the Use), but now, many people are starting to realize that standardized tests are not as convenient as they thought they were. In 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act required all schools in the United States to test students in grades two through twelve annually in reading, math, and science(Is the Use). But since then, the U.S. has dropped from 18th in the world in mathematics to 36th, with a similar change in science as well.
Persuasive Speech On Standardized Testing
1868 Words | 8 PagesThe state tried to force this child, Ethan, to take this test. In the meantime while Andrea was fighting the school system, Ethan Rediske passed away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Our children aren’t all dying of terrible diseases, but these standardized testing is killing our brothers and sisters creativity and passion for school instead. Standardized tests do not accurately measure what students know and what they can do, nor are they accurate predictors of future success
Arguments Against Standardized Testing
1171 Words | 5 PagesFor students and educators all over America, “standardized testing” is a commonly heard phrase. Students from grade school to high school are typically assessed each year with a state-created test, designed to measure a year’s worth of knowledge in the form of pencilled-in bubbles. Standardized testing has been a routine practice for years, but both students and teachers have recently began questioning if too much emphasis is placed on standardized testing in schools, and if the test is able to fulfill its purpose in the first place (Bhattacharyya, Junot, and Clark para. 2). Standardized testing is an impractical, superficial, and restrictive method of assessment, which suggests that it is not a reliable tool for education and the success of
High Stakes Testing Essay
883 Words | 4 PagesNicolas Wiyono Ms. Gaylord English 10 13 July 2023 The Limitations of High-Stakes Testing Towards Students' Skills and Mental Health High-stakes testing has become a widely used method to assess students' skills and compare their academic abilities. These tests refer to assessments or exams that have significant consequences for students in educational systems. These tests typically carry high stakes because they heavily influence important decisions, such as student promotion, graduation, college admissions, or school funding. Although high-stakes testing provides a standardized way to compare student performance across schools, the pressure to perform well on these tests can lead to heightened stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact
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