DEAR EDITOR:

Over the past few years, standardized testing has taken over schools. The invasion started slowly, but rapidly increased to where standardized tests are in every subject. This doesn’t even include standardized tests students are required to take and excel on to be accepted into college. As much as the government sees these tests as a positive thing, the tests show unfair representation for the average student.

One of the largest issues is the tests are geared in only one specific direction, leaving out ability to expand. These geared tests guide teachers to instruct students how to be knowledgeable in a certain way. This pushes students to think one way, blinding them from thinking outside the box.

Students are focused more on quick ways to reach answers to reach time limits rather than the process of bringing all knowledge together to work out answers. The idea that all students should be taught to think in the same manner to pass standardized tests is stifling creativity and imagination in the classroom. Since these tests have been established, the students’ way of thinking has become more analytical rather than synthetical. The U.S. government designs these tests so students learn in a logical manner, whereas the country of Finland uses assessments that encourage students to be active learners who find, analyze and use information to solve problems in novel situations. By Finland taking this means of education, Finland topped the international education (PISA) rankings from 2001-2008. Standardized tests force students to all become one and lose their ability to self express by pushing them down a one lane road.

Another issue with standardized tests is the competition rate. These tests create a highly competitive feel for students trying to get accepted into college because it differentiates them from one another. The competition can sometimes get fierce and people get hurt, destroying the unity of the students. The tests create opportunities for people to believe they are above others and ruin the utopia where people are equally categorized.

Standardized tests do not take into account how students think, but rather just test for the answer. This causes all teachers to teach in a specific way, blocking creative thinking. This files down the community of students to become drones in a sense because they lack the ability to self express because they’re no longer taught to. These tests also create an unhealthy competition throwing off balance and unity in a class. These tests are formed in an unfair manner and don’t test on the correct material causing students to actually succeed. The idea of standardized tests pushes students in the wrong direction leading to high stress levels and unaccountable scores.

DYLAN CAMPANELLI

North Lima