Fuck the current American education system...

[1029066]

Ok so as a junior in highschool, this year is very stressful. I have the SAT, a standardized writing and science test, the georgia graduation test, and EOCTs on top of that.

Now I'm not just randomly bitching. If you notice, there is an obvious consistency. What determines my future and my academic success seems to be based on standardized testing. Well let's see now there are so many intelligent people who are simply not good at test taking. They know the material they need for their classes and yet they have to stress and gamble everything on these god dammned standardized tests.

America needs to revamp it's education system and not rely on these standardized tests. Evaluate the students' skills in other ways. Grade them in other ways. Sure, we can still have regular class tests but please don't make it count for so much. It should be used as a tool for teachers to see what students need to learn.

So who's with me?!

 

[Staci]

your future and academic success is not determined on standardzied testing. that may be ONE way to get scholarships but in no way does it determine your future.

 

[1029066]

your future and academic success is not determined on standardzied testing. that may be ONE way to get scholarships but in no way does it determine your future.

Maybe not in the long run, but if I don't do well on them (especially the SAT and georgia graduation test) then it will be pretty hard to get into good colleges. Not to mention I can't really graduate. See where im getting at? We cant base students knowledge on these tests.

 

[Staci]

your SAT score determines if you graduate or not??? and even if you bomb the SAT/ACT you can go to a 2 year college to start off earn good grades keep your GPA up and transfer to a university

 

[Staci]

the knowledege on most of those tests basically show that by 12th grade you should have learned x amount of stuff.

 

[1029066]

You are proving my point though. If I fail I have to go to a 2 year college first. So our system is completely based on testing pretty much. It's fucked up.

 

[Staci]

You are proving my point though. If I fail I have to go to a 2 year college first. So our system is completely based on testing pretty much. It's fucked up.

so let me ask you...what is wrong with a 2 year college? is the associates degree that you get from there less demeaning than from a 2 year associates from a university? or do you not like 2 year colleges because the majority of them are WAY less expensive than a traditional 4 year college. i mean hell i would spend 40, 000 to get my associates from a university before i spent about 12,000 to get the same associates from a 2 year college.

 

[porterjack]

quit whining and take the test, who knows you may score well

 

[Dana]

wah..

 

[Kyle B]

America doesn't just rely on standardized testing. When you apply to four-year colleges, you'll be asked to submit a transcript, write an essay, and show that you're active in sports/extra-curricular activities. The SATs are considered by colleges because it's a way of assessing how well you are at reading, writing, and doing math problems on the spot. Of course, the validity of the SATs is highly debatable and there is considerable opposition to them. I personally didn't to that great on the SAT, but I was accepted into 3 four-year schools.

Oh, and four year schools are such a waste of time and money. In the end, I chose to go to a two-year school because it was more affordable, and honestly, you get the same education. I'll be heading to a four-year (state) school next semester though, because I want to pursue a bachelors.

 

[Minor Axis]

Testing and SATs have been around for as long as I can remember. Tests check knowledge. I'm not saying they are the best way however. Any ideas on a better way to evaluate the intelligence and contained knowledge of a person?

 

[Zorak]

From what I have heard about the American education system makes me very happy not to be a part of it.

 

[Accountable]

Ok so as a junior in highschool, this year is very stressful. I have the SAT, a standardized writing and science test, the georgia graduation test, and EOCTs on top of that.

Now I'm not just randomly bitching. If you notice, there is an obvious consistency. What determines my future and my academic success seems to be based on standardized testing. Well let's see now there are so many intelligent people who are simply not good at test taking. They know the material they need for their classes and yet they have to stress and gamble everything on these god dammned standardized tests.

America needs to revamp it's education system and not rely on these standardized tests. Evaluate the students' skills in other ways. Grade them in other ways. Sure, we can still have regular class tests but please don't make it count for so much. It should be used as a tool for teachers to see what students need to learn.

So who's with me?!

I think I see what you're saying, that no matter how intelligent you are or how good a job you may be able to do, standardized testing might knock you out of opportunities because of the stress they cause you. Is that it?

Life has stress. The people that excel are those that thrive under stress. What good would it be to prove that you are intelligent and skillful enough to do the job if you can't handle the stress of performing once you get the job?

Yes, there are alternative ways to assess your abilities other than standardizes pencil & paper tests, but think about it a sec: it's not the pencil and paper that cause the stress, nor is it the information the test is designed to get. You use a pencil & paper every day and you know the information inside and out (presumably). The stress comes from the importance assigned to the test, not the test itself. any alternative test will have the same importance, the same stress.

So the real problem is the stress, which isn't going to go away no matter what assessment there is. Even if you can design a stress-free assessment, college and the job you get after college are going to be stressful. Learn to deal with it.

 

[Minor Axis]

There is an adage: If it was easy, everyone could do it. This may not completely apply to this situation, but these tests are a evaluation hurdle to overcome, a means of weaning out those who have made the effort to acquire the required info, versus those who have not.

 

[Accountable]

There is an adage: If it was easy, everyone could do it. This may not completely apply to this situation, but these tests are a evaluation hurdle to overcome, a means of weaning out those who have made the effort to acquire the required info, versus those who have not.

Yup. Being a member of Mensa does not guarantee success. I tried to find some stats, but who cares about unsuccessful people?

 

[KimmyCharmeleon]

Ok so as a junior in highschool, this year is very stressful. I have the SAT, a standardized writing and science test, the georgia graduation test, and EOCTs on top of that.

Now I'm not just randomly bitching. If you notice, there is an obvious consistency. What determines my future and my academic success seems to be based on standardized testing. Well let's see now there are so many intelligent people who are simply not good at test taking. They know the material they need for their classes and yet they have to stress and gamble everything on these god dammned standardized tests.

America needs to revamp it's education system and not rely on these standardized tests. Evaluate the students' skills in other ways. Grade them in other ways. Sure, we can still have regular class tests but please don't make it count for so much. It should be used as a tool for teachers to see what students need to learn.

So who's with me?!

Lol I think they should examine skills outside of just intelligence, but it depends how you define intelligence, and the definition of intelligence has been argued so much. But you can have different types in different areas and stuff.
Things like IQ tests can be biased, and it's important to consider that the IQ test is only a measure of one type of intelligence, and decisions about the educational future of a child can be determined by these things.
It is the same with any kind of standardised test, it doesn't take into account other things that will affect someone's performance on the exam (i.e., culture, socioeconomic status, etc).
I don't know much about the American educational system, but that's just my take on things, and some random shit I've learnt thrown in there...

 

[1029066]

Ok I see what yall are saying. Yes, the ones who thrive under stress will be successful. But I still believe that we shouldn't rely so heavily on tests. Maybe someone is having a bad day. Who knows, I just still think it should be changed. But thanks for the input, yall make some good points.

 

[1029066]

Lol I think they should examine skills outside of just intelligence, but it depends how you define intelligence, and the definition of intelligence has been argued so much. But you can have different types in different areas and stuff.
Things like IQ tests can be biased, and it's important to consider that the IQ test is only a measure of one type of intelligence, and decisions about the educational future of a child can be determined by these things.
It is the same with any kind of standardised test, it doesn't take into account other things that will affect someone's performance on the exam (i.e., culture, socioeconomic status, etc).
I don't know much about the American educational system, but that's just my take on things, and some random shit I've learnt thrown in there...

Yes, I agree, it doesnt take into account the other factors, thats what I'm sayin.

 

[Accountable]

Ok I see what yall are saying. Yes, the ones who thrive under stress will be successful. But I still believe that we shouldn't rely so heavily on tests. Maybe someone is having a bad day. Who knows, I just still think it should be changed. But thanks for the input, yall make some good points.

Now that is an excellent point, and something that is pretty easy to account for, such as showing sustained excellence throughout the school year or something, or maybe giving someone a chance to retake the test on a different version.

 

[GoatCode]

I don't think these test mean as much as you think they do. I made a shitty (Well maybe an okay) SAT score and I got into a pretty good college IMO