Tara Fast is author of next 2015-2016 MLHS senior student editorial
What’s the Big Deal About State Testing?
Stressed with sports, school, homework, friends, and preparing themselves for the future describes what group of people? Students in school are stressed with homework, sports, and other activities, but then we add state testing on top of that? As a high school student, I get good grades, but I am not the best test taker. As a result, a state test makes my stress levels sky rocket. According to the article, “Testing doesn’t measure up for Americans,” a poll shows state testing is ruining school for kids, taking away valuable time from the other subjects that are not tested, and lessening the time for “core” subjects. Because of this, I believe that state testing should be an option, not a necessity.
School used to be fun for kids, but these tests make it harder for students to enjoy school. Jeanette Deutermann, a mother whose son used to love going to school until these tests came around, says, “He went from being a child who looked forward to school in the morning and would return home talking about the projects and interesting things that went on in the classroom to a child who cried at night, had stomachaches, and begged to stay home in the morning. This behavior began abruptly in 3rd grade, two months before his first state assessment.” Schools nowadays focus their curriculum on the big state tests. Taking these tests or even thinking about them can frustrate children so much that they becomes overwhelmed, which can affect his/her eating habits, sleep schedules, and grades. Instead of learning the content that will be on the state test, we could be using that time learning skills that we need, such as balancing a checkbook, taxes, or even budgeting.
While testing not only frustrates students and ruins the school atmosphere, these tests do not allow enough time for the students to learn in other subjects. I interviewed Mrs. Jayme Fast, a science teacher; Mr. Ryan Jans, a math teacher; and Mrs. Brenda Feil, an English teacher at Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) and asked them all the same question: “What do you think of state testing?”
Mr. Jans said that he does not “think it is a true measure of how a student is doing. It is based on that one day and that one test. Mrs. Fast said that instead of focusing on the test, she focuses on goals she has for her class and as individuals. She states, “I want the students to learn as much as they can and not just focus on the big state test coming up. Setting goals and being able to learn what they need will be way more helpful in life than a state test.” Lastly, Mrs. Feil said, “State testing totally changes the curriculum. It is set towards what will be on the state tests.” While talking to Feil, I could sense she did not like state testing and that the emphasis for state testing was not needed. Along with the first question, I also asked the teachers, “ Do you, as a teacher, ever feel rushed to get the curriculum in for the test?” Mr. Jans commented, “Oh yeah, I feel rushed at times. It is a reflection of me, as a teacher. I am not able to spend time on one topic for long, and if I spend too much time on one topic, I have to rush through the next.” This was no surprise to me, as a student of Jans, since I have felt very rushed at times, just so we could get all of our required math in before the test. Mrs. Fast response surprised me because she said, “I do not feel as rushed as the other subjects because the state test is for biology, which is taught before the higher high school science classes.” As I moved on and went to Feil, I realized that certain teachers are pushed more to get certain curriculum in for the test over other teachers. Feil commented that she “doesn’t feel like I can go into depth in any of her curriculum because I have to get a certain amount in before the test. If a kid falls behind, I am not able to help them as much as I would like because of the fast pace we have to go at.” With regard to writing, Feil said, “I am not able to focus on writing as much as I would like and help the students learn what is good and what is bad for a paper.”
Appearently, students are not the only ones who believe the emphasis on state testing at times prevents actual learning.
Overall, state testing is ruining the children’s attitudes toward school, and the children are learning less about the basic “core” in each subject. Emphasis on state testing has gone on too long and has not helped the education of children. Let us stop the emphasis, go back to the basic principles of each class, and make school fun again without having to worry about the next state test.