Commentary On Standardized Testing

     On Tuesday February 18, 2012 The Statesman posted an editorial by Laura Subrin Yeager arguing against a recent proposal of more standardized testing made by a paid Texas representative. Yeager argued that the tests did nothing but increase the drop out rate along with denying hard working students admission to college while raising the salaries of the test makers and graders. Yeager also suggests that because of the test makers wages rising with each standardized test, perhaps this is why the Austin Chamber and the Texas Association of Business make the tests out to be absolutely necessary for an improved workforce. 
     Yeager's commentary was posted along with several replies disagreeing with standardized testing.
    
     I would say it's safe to assume that Laura is a credible source considering her article is coherent and well written along with it being about her opinion. This article is really intended for any audience but I'm sure it's most easily relatable to college students and young adults.
     
     I definitely agree with Laura. There are several other states (and from a larger scale countries!) that surpass Texas educationally. Standardized testing should most definitely be decreased. Being a former high school student, I know when I say that those tests are ridiculously difficult and most of time don't even contain information that any human being will ever need to know. The tests are set up to trick and confuse the students.


     This obviously puts a huge stress on teachers because their students outcome on these ridiculous tests is reflection of "how they're doing their job". There could be an amazingly talented teacher who can educate a biology student about all sorts of plants and animals but literally is not allowed to teach that material because they're so stressed about imprinting meaningless facts into the students minds.


     Even if a student DOES remember everything they're taught for the testing, it's just memorizing. The student doesn't learn any life skills or information that will potentially help their profession of choice. I guess I'm ranting a little, it's just extremely disappointing to have spent four years of my life in a day care where a lot of what I learned is just memorization with no background knowledge of the subject. All of the information is HOW it's done not WHY it's done.


     I also strongly agree with Laura that the Texas Association of Business and Austin Chamber are completely aware of all of this but could quite possible care less because some of the money from making and grading the test is somehow finding a way into their pocket. 


     So, in conclusion, I agree with this argument about decreasing standardized testing and promoting a much freer and creative teaching environment.