Standardized Testing In Public Schools

As education and common core modernized with time, educators had difficulties comparing students’ academic levels and determining national standards. An educational pioneer named Horace Mann created a standardized test in 1845 to give “children equal opportunities” (Gershon). The idea expanded globally and each nation created their own forms of testing to accommodate for their country’s academic system. In Thailand, for example, O-Net is the form of testing which not only is the basis for the national curriculum, but also helps the board evaluate the educators teaching abilities (Goodman). Another example is Singapore, which isn’t solely based on academics; they also include physical fitness tests. Each country has a different method to determine future placement, but it has been argued whether these tests are truly effective (Rotberg).
For an educator, standardized testing creates a foundation for the nation’s curriculum. It provides structure and allows each student to be equally graded, which
Also, testing allows parents to view their child’s progress and compare them to others throughout the country. It allows them and their teachers visualize what they need to do to help the children. When standardized tests are used appropriately, a great deal can be learned about how well schools function. According to Gale Pages, “That information [Standardized Tests] allows educators and policymakers to make better-informed conclusions about how much students are learning, which in turn allows them to make better-informed decisions about improving programs.” By receiving scores on how students place, the opportunity for improvement opens up. Educators can emphasize what it important and spend extra or less time on what they think is necessary. Also, if a specific department does not do well, extra money can be spent trying to improve