What Are The Benefits Of Standardized Testing Persuasive Essay

The goal of education should be to teach children how to think for themselves, not necessarily to teach them what to think. After completing school, graduates should feel prepared to handle adult problems on their own. However, the American education system oftentimes does not seem to strive for such things. Standardized testing and competitiveness with other nations has led to stressed, overworked students who feel unprepared to do anything besides memorize information. In addition, numerous schools across the country are underfunded, and therefore unable to provide the quality of education that they would like to. If these issues are addressed, the outcome will be healthier, happier, and brighter students. Standardized testing is harmful to students because it teaches children as young as eight years old that there are only one correct answer to any given problem. This is particularly problematic in subjects like English, when students are expected to choose the “right” interpretation of a poem or story, which is purely subjective. Standardized testing limits the imaginations of young people; filling them with the ever-looming fear of getting the “wrong
answer”. It is important to teach children that there is not always a right or wrong answer. They should be free to explore possible solutions without being punished for it. Standardized testing also affects the ways teachers have to provide information. Instead of teaching what they feel is important, teachers must teach students how to take a test. The message that is then sent to students is that it does not matter how much they learn, only how well they score on the test. It should be no mystery, then, why students cheat on tests. If they are taught that the objective of school is simply to make high test scores, of course they will sacrifice learning for a good grade. Standardized testing should be eliminated, because it limits the minds of students and teaches them skewed values. Schools are also often underfunded, particularly in North Carolina, and cannot provide the best learning environment merely because they do not have the resources to do so.
Schools have to conserve paper because there is only so much the state will provide. Students have to eat poor quality food because the school cannot afford better cafeteria food. Additionally, teachers are paid extremely low salaries, which can repel people from pursuing a career in teaching. If teachers were paid more, there would be no shortage of educators. Numerous people would apply for teaching positions, and the best of the best would be employed. More money should be put into education, because not only would schools have the resources they need, but also the quality of teaching would be maximized if educators were paid
more. Competition, numbers, and money should not be the basis of the American education system. Our system would be greatly improved if more money was put into education and if standardized testing was eliminated. Students and teachers alike would be happier, less stressed, and more successful.