Testing.....

When students are being assessed, school districts/policy makers should factor in the students’ academic progress. Students are being stressed the months approaching, the week of, and the night before the standardized test are being conducted. Teachers as well are being stressed in regards that the students’ scores must at a certain percentile in order for the district to have achievement in numbers and for politicians (some not all) to brag and say “look what my school district accomplish under my leadership”. The main factor that is being left out in this equation are the students. If the standardized test are going to be conducted then factor in the academics. Some students are not good test takers-meaning some students need more time on standardized test, and students are nervous. A standardized test does not represent the whole child. It’s a test taken by students with a number two pencil, reading questions and filling in holes. Does this represent the hard work, dedication, and effort that the teachers prepared themselves and the students in this one test?  If we as educators are going to measure on assessments, then lets do it right and measure all educational aspect of the students. In Georgia, Atlanta Public School are dealing with the scandal of falsifying test scores. The educators who reported the cheating were fired because they talked, now everyone who was involved are taking their number two pencils and pointing the finger at each other. What does this teach our students, the state of Georgia, and our country? If the academics were being factor along with the assessment test maybe this testing scandal would have never taken place….. food for thought.

As for students around the world, certain groups forbid women/girls to be educated. This week the media has numerous coverage of Malala. Young girl from Pakistan whose voice was heard all of over the world stating all women/girls shall receive an education. Education is the key. Girls/women have to go in hiding to learn, we as here in the United Stated sometime we as the people take the freedoms we have for granted like education. In Pakistan, the sector of spending financial aspect of education is failing their children, the future leaders of tomorrow. The Care Foundation assist with funding and educating the children of Pakistan.  “501 million children in Pakistan- who are school age children are out of school”(www.carepakistan.org)

So as we are deciphering if our schools should measure or assessed certain areas of the students, we should always remember the children of the world who aren’t able to receive an educations. (cressettech.com, 2013)

References

cressettech.com. (2013). The State of Education in Pakistan. Retrieved from www.carepakistan.org: www.carepakistan.org/the-state-of-education-in-pakistan.html#