Should standards really be a standard?

Standardized tests.  Most people take them, whether it is the SAT, PSAT, Vestibular, Enem or the MAP Test, and yet, there have been little action towards changing and creating a less standardized and more appropriate way of testing students’ knowledge and progress. Teachers from Garfield High School boycotted the MAP standardized test and believe that such tests should not be used to assess a student’s education, since it will only asses a ”snapshot of a student on one particular day.”. Students, having to take the same tests twice a year, do not try their best and end up using this assessment as a method of competition or a waste of time, either way, not reaching a result that reflects their actual knowledge and understanding. This method of testing is out of date, and should be replaced by a gathering of accomplishments done by each student, since those will be a great example of what the student truly understands and what subjects she has not yet mastered. Examining students’ performance throughout the year, instead of in one particular test, will provide the teachers and school administration with a legitimate conclusion of how the students have been working and what they were able to achieve. 

As a student, I agree that actions should be taken, since I believe that my progress and growth school-wise cannot, and will not, be truly, or entirely, exposed by a standardized test. Nevertheless, I understand why such examinations are created, and the ‘importance’ of standards to be made. Yet, I believe that in order to allow a student the very best education she can get, she should not be compared to other students ‘capacity to learn and understand, neither should she be compared to others’ testing abilities. A student should be recognized by their hard work and own achievements, not by standards created by testing others. 

My views can be explained with the quote: “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water”. I truly believe that standards should be thrown out the window, together with the MAP Test and the bath water, but also remembering to keep the baby. Even though, when it comes to test taking, standards are not essential, some have to be kept in order for schools and students to know what should be learned, with the purpose of getting pupils worldwide with the same basic knowledge. However, besides that ‘basic’ knowledge that should be taught, I believe that students should follow their own pace when learning, since it will provide them with a greater intake of information. This would allow them to study subjects that interest them further, while also allowing them to understand the topics they have a harder time with in a slower pace, in order to fully ‘digest’ the challenging information. This is where the standards would come in handy. Instead of allowing students to learn only the subjects that interest them, they would be expected to master the ‘basic’ subjects, yet they would be able to take their time and learn in a way they are able to better understand. 

Our current society has been going through several changes regarding technology advances, and I believe that such innovations should be put to a better use inside our education system. Why not use such resources to change learning into something more personal, in which each student can chose the way they prefer to learn and use it to turn their learning experience into the very best.