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I'm kind of split on this issue. On the one hand, it does encourage teachers to only teach to pass the tests.
But on the other hand, in Louisiana at least, the tests are so incredibly easy that if you don't pass them you should NOT be promoted. The essay I remember writing was nothing obscure or difficult - I think it was something about how to bake a cake. It was basically checking to see if you could put your thoughts in a logical order. The social studies test was basic facts - when was the United States founded; what is the difference between an import and an export, etc.
In areas with poor school systems, its sometimes necessary for standardized tests, to see if the students are learning anything at all. In a sense, a teacher's test is biased if she knows she's taught poorly (or maybe doesn't realize this) and therefore made her tests to pass anyone who has written their name correctly.
Standardized tests do have their place. Yes, they are greatly overemphasized in many school systems. But the quality of school systems varies so widely around the country, its necessary to have some sort of equalizing factor. For example, there have been people in LA that make cases over the fact that they can't get the TOPS scholarship (which requires a 2.5 and a 20 ACT), even though they have a 4.0, because their ACT score (from more than one test date) is a 16. Hmmm...Makes you wonder what kind of school the go to if its that easy you can make all As, and still not even achieve the state average on the ACT. Yes, there are people who just "don't test well" but a lot of those skills can be learned through practice. I think that both things together can be a measure of whether or not the school is doing its job well.
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