What Are You Really Learning at School and Do Standardized Test Matter?
(Background story)
So if you are like me growing up school wasn't your best friend. Don't get me wrong I loved school for the social aspect and the fact that I got to see my friends, but when it came to the academic side it was the absolute worst. I went to a private school and the level of education was higher than public school (supposedly). For me I was a visual learner and a hands on person, I hated the fact of just sitting in a math class and doing math problems on a board and chemistry learning formulas. I liked classes like English, occasionally history, and loved Art. Then when it came to the SAT's and ACT's you can only imagine how stressed I was because school and I were never best friends my best in math and science was probably B and C work. My parents always told me that I should go higher in Math, but as soon as I got my required credits for high school I said "GOODBYE" to math forever (until I got to college). When it came to college because of my lack of math classes in high school I actually scored on the lower end and had to take pre-req for Math 100 and thats embarassing. Which was a shock to me and my parents. That's my whole school career and my college freshman story in a nutshell.
I was one of those kids who cheated on a test because I couldn't get concepts and realized I had to get in college and I wanted a chance of having a successful life and everyone stressed how well we needed to do in high school in order to get into a good college/ getting a good job. Never took school seriously until my Junior Year in high school. My SAT/ACT scores were so embarrassing compared to my friends who "didn't even need to study" and my whole life I literally felt so stupid. I felt embarrassed if I couldn't do a math problem in class or I was one of the few to get a bad grade on a test.
If you were to ask me what I really learned in High School to be honest it wouldn't be anything math or science related. It would be history/english things that stuck with me. Other than that everything that has stuck with me is maybe some advice that teachers/mentors have given me from that time.
Bottom line is that I didn't really learn anything super valuable academically. I learned maybe work ethic, grew into the person I am today, and realized that school isn't really everything. I just think that the education system in Hawaii is lacking. We were ranked 39 in the United States in 2016 according to Wallet Hub. Now that's not awful, but I have talked to friends from other states saying they started college education since High school where they had special programs to help pay for school while in high school.
I just think that the schools need to drop standardized testing and really find ways to accommodate students, we are all different with different abilities. People need to invest in the students in school because they are the next generation. The generation that will be making the decisions one day, if we found better ways to help them excel in areas where they prove to be more successful and help nurture that and go from there, we would have way better results. Not everyone needs to be a doctor or a lawyer (not that we don't need those) but everyone has a gift, different learning abilities, etc. If we could aid to their ways they would thrive in their education.
I never all through high school never felt like I excelled or thrived in academics. Maybe only in english, history, or art. It wasn't later till I found out I was good at working with people and talking to people when I joined the Student Senate. That's where I found my talents, that's where I thrived. I just think that those test don't define you because for a long time I though they did and I thought I was "stupid." Which in reality I'm not, I remember this one time where thrived in Geometry class because my teacher paid attention to how I learned and he worked with me and aided to my learning abilities and that's when I successful.
So that was my opinion and my personal story with school, but when I looked up and did some research about the topic. I found out that a lot of the things stated in this article really was similar to how I was. For example, the stress of doing well in school can either make you or bend you. It wasn't necessarily the best for me considering I didn't know much. So I would cheat because of the pressures of getting into college in like my early high school days. I also think it gives students, parents, teachers a sense of insecurity when they get results back. These test weren't designed by someones super smart they were made my people who didn't think about other possibilities. I believe standardized testing kills creativity. Putting everyone in a room with different learning backgrounds and expecting them to do well on this standard test is mediocre. Some simply remember formulas and apply them to test, some actually know the material, others aren't good test takers. It's not an excuse it's real life. How can you define someone on just one test?
I also dislike standardized testing, and I do not like that teachers feel pressure that their students need to do well so they sometimes "teach to the test." You are right - one test shouldn't define one person. How do you think high schools could assess students in alternate ways? How might that affect applying for colleges - do you think a standardized test should still be a part of the admission process?
ReplyDeleteYes! I totally feel you on that. Education is handled in a way where if you don't get it the first time, it means you aren't adequate enough or you are just not smart enough which is wrong. They tell you to keep reading it until we understand. I feel that maybe holding some truth but walking us through it or even teaching that subject that can accommodate that person's learning style.
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