Innovations in Surgical Instruments
RESEARCH PAPER REVISION
COM220
RESEARCH PAPER REVISION
COM 220
July 3, 2013
Negative Impact of Standardized Testing Jonathan Kozol, author of The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America, stated that “There is something deeply hypocritical in a society that holds an inner-city child only eight years old “accountable” for her performance on a high-stakes standardized exam but does not hold the high officials of our government accountable for robbing her of what they gave their own kids six or seven years before.” In our current education system in the United States, we have placed an increased value on standardized testing. Kozol creates an interesting point. While standardized testing serves as the primary method of assessment in US public schools, there are many negative effects of this high stakes method including compromising morals of educators, district leaders and students and increasing pressure amongst student populations, educators and district leaders. Because of these effects, standardized testing is not the best option available for U.S. public schools. Standardized testing has a direct negative effect on an educational system including administrators, teachers and students. Standardized testing has proven to increase pressure amongst district leaders and teachers. Smolin and Clayton’s (2009) study reports that “AYP is based on assessment scores and is used as a determining factor when deciding if parents can transfer their children to higher-performing schools; affecting federal funding. As a result, educational leaders have begun to question how far schools should be allowed to go in addressing high stakes accountability.” (p. 36) Due to the pressure created among these populations, morals are sometimes jeopardized in an effort to make sure test scores are where they need to be. Smolin and Clayton’s (2009) says that “as Ms. Jeffrey informed the school principal of the testing violation, she
COM220
RESEARCH PAPER REVISION
COM 220
July 3, 2013
Negative Impact of Standardized Testing Jonathan Kozol, author of The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America, stated that “There is something deeply hypocritical in a society that holds an inner-city child only eight years old “accountable” for her performance on a high-stakes standardized exam but does not hold the high officials of our government accountable for robbing her of what they gave their own kids six or seven years before.” In our current education system in the United States, we have placed an increased value on standardized testing. Kozol creates an interesting point. While standardized testing serves as the primary method of assessment in US public schools, there are many negative effects of this high stakes method including compromising morals of educators, district leaders and students and increasing pressure amongst student populations, educators and district leaders. Because of these effects, standardized testing is not the best option available for U.S. public schools. Standardized testing has a direct negative effect on an educational system including administrators, teachers and students. Standardized testing has proven to increase pressure amongst district leaders and teachers. Smolin and Clayton’s (2009) study reports that “AYP is based on assessment scores and is used as a determining factor when deciding if parents can transfer their children to higher-performing schools; affecting federal funding. As a result, educational leaders have begun to question how far schools should be allowed to go in addressing high stakes accountability.” (p. 36) Due to the pressure created among these populations, morals are sometimes jeopardized in an effort to make sure test scores are where they need to be. Smolin and Clayton’s (2009) says that “as Ms. Jeffrey informed the school principal of the testing violation, she