When using standardized tests to assess all children the individual child is not taken into consideration. Standardize test measure the student’s ability to read, write and complete math problems. Through these tests several areas get over looked when considering the holistic child such as physical, social/emotional, language, cognitive development and environmental conditions which all need to be considered. As a parent I have a child who has an individualized education plan which requires someone to read a test out loud for her, as she reads things twist around and get jumbled. I have another who gets test anxiety regardless of the material. In the same home there are other children who have no issues what so ever. Each child is different and responds to teachers differently, as a teacher I am on the fence with Standardized testing I can see why a baseline is beneficial but when you start to base funding and progression of a school the water gets muddy as the bottom line is each child is an individual.
I chose to look at Japan to find out how they monitor the progression of their students. I found that from kindergarten through the age of twelve, education is free, fun, creative and an overall exciting learning environment. When students turn twelve, the assessments are very rigorous. Students become fixated on passing the required tests. They throw fun and creativity out the window and become a nation of order takers incapable of making a simple decision.
Resources:
Burns, Kevin., Japan and its standardized test-based education system. Japan Today
