Too Much Testing
The goal of every educator should be to expand the minds of the students he or she teaches. However, it seems as if teachers are now concentrating on appeasing the state. This is not the fault of the school’s teachers or administration; it is the fault of the government and their need to experiment on the students currently in the classroom. It is obvious that the government is trying to ensure that the students are receiving a proper education, but they do not realize that they are hindering the learning process instead of helping it. The students are not learning extensive subject matter. They are only learning how to pass the many standardized tests. Overall, students should not be required to take standardized tests because they are harmful to the educational experience.
With so much progress in society, it would be logical to assume that the learning process would become more advanced and effective. However, the complete opposite is occurring because of the many standardized tests that students must take. Instead of learning the basics and expanding on them, students are only learning how to take these disruptive tests. As a result, students do not learn the educational fundamentals needed for future success. In many cases, teachers are only teaching “to the test.” For example, being a sophomore in high school, teachers have continuously taught me how to analyze a test question or how to write in response to Keystone Literature Exam questions. Going back to elementary and middle school, I was constantly learning how to do simple Algebra 1 problems. I can figure out every possible question that could appear on the test. This same situation is happening in all of the core class in every grade. Schools are so concerned about their data and meeting their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) that they are overlooking what is truly important to education, creating a strong educational foundation for life-long learners. As a result, students are missing key components of grammar, math and science. Standardized tests are dominating valuable time that could be used to improve the educational experience for all students. I am failing to see how taking so many of these tests is worthwhile.
There are eight periods in a regular school day. This gives students the opportunity to participate in up to eight classes every day. These classes have a complex mixture of content and difficulty levels. Some students choose to take the basic level courses while others choose to take “honors” level classes. For students like me who choose to take the honors classes, it is extremely difficult to miss a day of school. The classes that students miss contain information that could be important for completing future assignments and taking tests. This results in hours of make-up work and confusion. If a student falls behind in an honors course, or an AP (Advanced Placement) course, he or she might not pass that particular marking period. These same problems also affect those students who do not choose to take the honors classes. Simply, it is difficult to miss school for anyone. This leads to the next problem caused by state testing, the disruptiveness to the daily schedule and learning process. When students must take the standardized tests, they miss three to four periods each day for 2-3 days per test. This may seem like a minor issue, but to a student, it produces a huge problem. While that a student is taking the required test, his or her regular class is still in session. I know from taking the Keystone Literature Exam earlier this year that it is hard to recover from missing that many classes. My test lasted for two days, causing me to miss three periods each day. In that time, I missed two chapter tests, an essay assignment, and a ton of class work. Being an honors student, my teachers expect me to complete my regular homework, study for the tests I missed and the upcoming ones for that week, make up my work, and somehow get everything completed by the end of the week. Personally, I have a very rigorous schedule with classes that give me both homework and daunting tests on a regular basis. This makes it difficult to fall behind. It adds pressure to the student because they now have to learn the lesson by themselves and complete work. This added stress level is unnecessary for any elementary, middle, or high school student. It is a requirement that a student must attend 12 years of school in order to graduate. However, the government is depriving students of almost 3/4 of a year of school, only providing 11 and a quarter years of education. This is another negative result of standardized testing. When checking my performance tracker, it is easy to see how the test interferes with regular class time. First, we took eight tests in elementary school lasting a day each. Next, we took up to 30 hours of 4-Sight tests in middle school to prepare for the PSSA exams. Then we had to take 14 days’ worth of PSSA tests. To date in high school, my class has taken three Keystone Exams. Each test takes about a whole school day in total time. Add in the countless hours spent on Study Island, other test preparation web sites, and days spent “reviewing,” and a student has easily lost three- quarters of a year of educational time. From the standpoint of a student, that is time that could be put to use in a more beneficial way. People could easily suggest expanding the school day, but there truly is not time. It would be an act of cruelty to expand the school day because students need all of the time they can get to complete their homework. For those students taking challenging classes, the time spent doing homework can average between two to six hours per night. This does not leave any time for community service or extra-curricular activities. If the government were to ban all standardized testing, it could improve the lives of the students. This would allow students to have more time in the classroom and have less stress throughout the school day
The students currently in the classroom are preparing to be productive members of society. The standardized tests are evidently harmful, time consuming, and disruptive. These tests need to be banned from the educational system. This will give students more classroom time and allow them a greater chance at success. If the government truly needs to see how the students are performing, then they should look at the overall academic standings in each school. They should try to make programs to help students who need it and leave the others alone to successfully complete their 12 years of school. It is the best solution to the pressing and stressful problems that these experimental tests cause. Most importantly, ridding the students of these tests will allow them to have an easier time trying to finish their assignments and homework. I am not the only student who feels this way, and it is time for a change because there truly is too much testing.
Technology
Everyday, new technology is dispersed to millions of people all around the world. One of the biggest technological trends today is the daily use of smartphones. These devices can provide instant access to everything a person can possibly require. However, these little devices can be seen as causing huge problems with their ability to view the internet, take photos, and quickly communicate with others. As mass technology creates new apps, websites, and social media networks at a psychopathic rate, technological nay-sayers are trying to fight against the future. Personally, I feel that smartphones are making society more productive, efficient, and capable to do tasks required of a person throughout each day.
One of the most important parts of a person’s day is communicating with others. Smartphones, with the ability to view social networks, e-mail, and text messages permit people to be able to converse more frequently and quickly. People in the workplace can use Facetime, a form of video chat in which users can see and talk to on another as if they are in the same room, giving businesses more efficiency. Programs similar to Facetime allow for quicker meetings, and they allow people to work from home. Smartphones prove to be extremely handy for this reason alone; but, they can do more.
Another useful quality of a smartphone is its connection to education. Many smartphones have apps made specifically for every grade level. These apps allow teachers to connect with their students in and out of the classroom. Smartphones provide several advantages to students. The apps can enable them to do assignments on e-paper rather than having to write anything out. Also, this method allows students the ability to save and view their work electronically. Providing instantaneous access to websites, smartphones are excellent tools to use when doing research. The cameras on the phones can also be used to take pictures of white boards and Smart Boards, giving students quick ways to obtain homework or notes.
Smartphones are also helpful in daily life. These extraordinary devices can translate languages and allow people to communicate more freely. Also, the camera’s zoom allows people with vision problems to see farther distances. The phones can assist the forgetful by scheduling a person’s entire day. Theses devices have fantastic navigation systems, ensuring that people always have directions or help when needed.
More people must accept progress in order to ea
se into today’s generation. It is pointless to fight against the future. Each day, people are coming up with thousands of new ideas to improve life for everyone. When pondering all of the possibilities, the smartphone is a growing innovation. For today’s generation, the hyperbole “I would die without my phone” is no longer an exaggeration. Once a person gets on the technological treadmill, there is no getting off. It only goes faster. People need to jump on and exercise their minds.
