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Complelling issue: Testing, History and Perspective

Testing Testing! One Two!

The History of Testing

Standardized testing has had a history, and from the beginning it has had its problems. “For example, Smith and Rottenberg (1991) report that mandated testing at the elementary school level resulted in (a) reduced time for instruction, (b) the neglect of non-tested curriculum content, and (c) increased use of test-like preparation materials” (Lomax, 1995).
Preparing for a test takes time. It would be beneficial to receive as much time to be prepared for the test. Unfortunately, within 180 days, about 10 days are just for days. The amount of days are decreased when breaks are included. With many factors included, it seems like all we have time for is to take the test. This issue still exists with testing today. 
Neglecting non-subject content and the increase in preparation materials of the test still create an issue as well. We focus on the main subject and neglect subjects that are just as important 
 It is great that you know about reading and math, but do you know history?


The Perspective of Testing

There are those that believe that testing our students is beneficial. It does more good than harm.  
“It is only through assessment that we can find out whether instruction has had
its intended effect, because even the best-designed instruction cannot be guaranteed to be effective (see, e.g., Denvir & Brown, 1986a, 1986b)” (William, 2010).”
It is true that it measures the effectiveness of the instruction. The instruction of the whole year. This does not include the tests that they take after each unit. Testing the students is also beneficial for the government. Unfortunately the amount of money given is based on the scores. Williams explains that it should be based on the attendance of the students , the school’s physical appearance, and the performance of those who are present (2010). If it was based on these factors, the act of testing would not be stressful. 
There are those who believe that students should not be tested at all. All it is anamount oftime for students to be forced to be quiet be tested on material that might have forgotten. In the simplist terms: It is just a waste of time.
There are ways that students could be tested with a purpose.

Reference:
Lomax, R. G., West, M. M., Harmon, M. C., & Viator, K. A. (1995). The impact of mandated standardized testing on minority students. Journal of Negro Education, 64(2), 171–185. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.2307/2967240

Wiliam, D. (2010). Standardized testing and school accountability. Educational Psychologist, 45(2), 107–122. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.1080/00461521003703060

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