Standardized Testing in United States Schools - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 973 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/06/24 Category Management Essay Level High school Tags: Standardized Testing Essay Did you like this example? Schools across the United States have become accustomed to the idea of standardized testing and use these tests constantly throughout the school year. Many children even start these tests at the young age of 11. There are a variety of tests such as the SAT, ACT, and PERT, which are the focal measurements determining acceptance into most colleges. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Standardized Testing in United States Schools" essay for you Create order The main question is, should these standardized tests be mandatory at all high schools? This topic has been widely debated throughout the years, but based on research conducted by researchers, journalists, etc. the answer is yes. The fact that standardized tests are reliable, objective measurements of student and teacher achievement, and an educational reference point to ensure fair school education across the nation are just two of the many reasons why all high schools should mandate these tests. It is human nature to make mistakes and have biased opinions, but with the use of standardized testing, it provides an objective measurement of student and teacher achievement. Contrary to popular belief, teachers have a large impact on students grades unintentionally from the unreliability of the scores through favoritism and error. According to Richard P. Phelps, author of Defending Standardized testing, it is stated, First, there is the benefit of information used for diagnosis (e.g., of a students or teachers problems or progress). Standardized tests may reveal weaknesses or strengths that corroborate or supplement a teachers or principals analysis. (Phelps). The basis of Phelps argument is that the information produced by the tests helps determine teacher and student achievement. Standardized tests also ascertain whether there is a positive or negative correlation between the two, as in if the teacher had prepared the student successfully enough or whether the student possesses the capable skills to pass the given test. To summarize the previous statement, The Huffington Post expresses similar viewpoints. According to Dr. Gail Gross, contributor to the Huffington Post, The standardized test is an objective and critical measure of achievement in skills, knowledge, and abilities, and must pass the criteria of measurement validity, reliability, and bias, as well as an awareness of the tests potential limitations in scoring (Gross). What can be understood from these two quotes is that one benefit of standardized testing is making sure that each participant of the test is graded fairly and objectively to ensure the best possible results of the students achievement. Besides the understanding of individual student academic achievements provided by standardized testing, it also acts as an educational reference point for schoolwide and nationwide success. According to Dr. Gail Gross from the Huffington Post, The standardized test gives valuable insight into broader issues, such as acting as an education reference point for fair and equitable education for all children in all schools † district by district and state by state (Gross). Most standardized tests provide percentages of schools passing rates and group them throughout the school district to show what schools need further funding and help to overall better their students education. These large decisions concerning further amplification of the schools educational curriculum are made by the districts School Board, in which the superintendent of that district plays a major role. In low-income neighborhoods and cities, students test scores tend to be lower than those of the more fortunate due to lack of proper materials, funding, and other vital resources needed to ultimately pass the test. According to Defending Standardized Testing, there has been a conducted survey of 1,023 parents of children who attend school, in which it was found that 83% of the responding participants believe that tests provide important information about their childrens educational progress, and even further, 9 out of 10 wanted data to compare and contrast the scores of their children and the schools they attend. (Phelps). In arguing this claim, Phelps used the conducted survey of childrens test scores from standardized testing to show that not only do these tests provide crucial information regarding academic achievement but assess the comparison of the scores throughout the schools that take it. This overall benefits the schools throughout the district because it can assess the schools progress to the School Board, negative or positive. On the other hand, some people might argue and constantly scrutinize standardized testing based on the mere fact that it can cause students to become very stressed and overwhelmed. According to Francois R. Casas and Diane E. Meaghan, co-authors of Renewing the Debate Over the Use of Standardized Testing in the Evaluation of Learning and Teaching, Standardized tests are not suitable for all students: the pressure they exert on children is of a different nature than that encountered daily in the classroom. (Casas, Meaghan). In other words, Casas and Meaghan emphasize the stress applied to children when studying for and taking standardized tests instructed in their curriculum. This may be true in some cases, on how each person participating in this test is different and have different amounts of stress they can deal with, which can be tricky when it comes to the day of the test. This is certainly not a factor to rule out because, understandably, the negative impacts these tests have on children are serious. However, with further adjustment to the curriculum, the overall benefit of these tests outweighs the negative impacts that can sometimes, but quite seldomly occur. In the final analysis, standardized tests are crucial and overall advantageous because they are reliable and objective measures of student achievement and serve as an educational reference point to ensure fair school education in all schools. The practice and use of standardized tests persist with high hopes of counteracting the negative effects, alongside the desire to intensify and strengthen the positive outcomes that are the result of these tests. The debate over this topic is far from over and will continue to be researched as more effective standardized tests arise in schools over periods of time.

Christian Ideals in The Grapes of Wrath Essay - 858 Words

The Christian Ideals in The Grapes of Wrath nbsp; In Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath one of the themes discussed is the idea of Christian goodness exhibited in the Joads and other migrant workers. Those in the book representing this * [eat] together with glad and sincere hearts. This type of selfless sharing is a Christian concept of good fellowship. Particularly, Ma shows her caring towards others from the beginning and urges others to do the same. Jim Casy, while struggling with the orthodox view of Christianity, still displays a general concern for his fellow man. Repeatedly the family and others associated sacrifice comfort for the requirements of others. When people are in need, a sacrifice for their behalf makes society†¦show more content†¦His initials, J.C., stand for Jesus Christ, continuing the sacrificial nature of the characters in the book. When Tom is about to be arrested, Casy allows himself to be taken saying: Somebody got to take the blame. He sets an example for Tom to follow later and takes the punishment for Toms crime, which is reminiscent of Jesus purpose on earth. Also like Jesus, Casy gives his life for the people, thought they most likely do not appreciate the gift, leading them and also trying to convince others realize their the results of their actions. While many do not understand how their shortsightedness [helps] to starve kids, Casy extends his view and sacrifices of his time and eventually of his life to ameliorate the situations of the migrant farmers. Jim Casy leaves the legacy of Christian sacrifice to the other characters, and after he is gone, the choice to work together is up to those still alive. Once in California, the comprehension is displayed that comfort should not be valued over the need of others. In the Hooverville, the Joads are faced with a dilemma as starving children gather around Ma while she is fixing their dinner. Albeit they [dont] have enough for themselves, they nevertheless save a taste for the children. When the mother of the offspring comes t o Ma, the Joad explains that they [couldnt] keep it when they look [like that]. The Joads give up their comfort of a good meal to 3 give a little to the children. 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Frederick Douglass A Learning Nation - 1631 Words

Frederick Douglass: A Learning Nation By definition the word abolition means,† The act of abolishing... the state of being abolished... the legal prohibition and ending of slavery, especially of slavery of blacks in the U.S.(Definition).† When Frederick Douglass wrote his personal narrative it had a profound effect on the abolitionist cause. People were astounded at how it opened their eyes to the horror of what slavery genuinely was. The book allowed people to recognize how slaves felt, and reminded them that they were intellectual beings who had thoughts and feelings. Many repeating themes throughout the novel changed the lives and beliefs of many northerners, especially regarding education, equality, and freedom for slaves and†¦show more content†¦Due to her disagreement she moved to Philadelphia to live with her sister(The Abolitionists). As a woman who was willing to speak her own mind, she was very revolutional. Not only did people listen to her though, they followed her, eventually she eve n formed her own women’s rally, and was married to her husband by a black priest. Northern support for abolition was one of the only opportunities that the slaves had for hope of emancipation. William Lloyd Garrison supported the abolitionist cause for thirty years before the Civil War broke out, when freedom was more of a possibility than a thought. Garrison, an avid supporter of abolition, embraced a mixed race view of American culture, and demanded immediate abolition of slavery(The Abolitionists). These views helped him gain many enemies that were more powerful than him. He was thrown in jail, after which he started his own newspaper that supported abolition. By 1830, he was back in Boston and rallying supporters. On January 1, 1831 Garrison published his first paper, within the first eight months his name became associated with a band of black slave rebels who killed a series of white families (The Abolitionists). Garrison met Douglass at a convention and Garrison encouraged him to tell his personal account of his experiences with slavery. Douglass’ ac count had a more profound effect on

The More We Have the More We Want free essay sample

Nowadays we live in a society, which is obsessed with materialistic things. In supermarkets, shops, on the internet also almost everywhere we are surrounded with products which we could buy. Unfortunately people want more and more stuff and are not satisfied with what they have. People have need to own more and more things, because the society requisite It from us. The people around us push us to buy new things, to have stuff which we really do not need. So the cold truth is that we are competing with others.On the other side there is the media, who manipulates us and we do not even recognize it. The commercials always have effects on us and make us believe that we really need the product which they are selling. There are every year more and more shopping centers and they are every time bigger and bigger. Visiting shopping centers became a holiday or a relaxation or a plan for the weekend. We will write a custom essay sample on The More We Have the More We Want or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lot of women and even men became Sophocles and obsessed with all kind of products and stuff. Consequently is the money what we most need and want.Without money we cannot afford this things and this Is why we want more and more money. The society is expressing to us that persons who have lot of money have comfortably and better life, have everything what they want and are happy. But believe that this Is not true. I think that money cannot buy happiness. And I totally agree with the statement which says that money is the root of all evil. On the other hand we can also be obsessed with power, fame, and all kind of psychical stuff The power is the most dangerous of them.One you eave a little power over somebody you want more and more. Good examples of this are the negative and bad personalities in history like Hitler, Stalin and others. And this is why we need to be careful with our power. In conclusion in my essay I absolutely supported the statement above and I exposure only the bad sides, because I believe that there are only negative sides about that. I hope that people will begin to starve for knowledge and not for material or bad psychical things. Only this would be good to have a lot and want more and more.