October 21, 2016

Dear Future President:

Standardized tests impacts all kinds of kids around America because every year we have to take these tests. It has become more and more important because kids every year fail the test because they are not “smart” enough. All students are impacted because of these awful tests. I am impacted because I am not good at taking tests, and I can not do my best or show how smart I am with these tests. Students should not have to participate in standardized tests because our intelligence should not be based on a test someone in the government created to make money. A student's intelligence can not be measured by these tests.

Standardized tests should be eliminated is because our intelligence should not be based on a mandatory test that doesn't even meet all the needs to all kids. In lower income schools standardized test ruin the experience and take out things children should really be doing during school. For example, “In poorer districts, teaching to the test is even more likely to replace the other activities that students desperately need. The charter schools that are supposed to provide educational choice are captive to data-driven decision making that results in even more test score obsession to please lawmakers and private donors” (Kamenetz), which proves that the preparation it takes for standardized tests is completely overwhelming and time consuming. Children should be having fun experiences they can learn from in school, not preparing for a test that will not actually be beneficial to them after all. Research also says, “Contrary to popular assumptions about standardized testing, the tests do a poor job of measuring student achievement. They fail to measure such important attributes as creativity and critical thinking skills. Studies indicate that standardized tests reward superficial thinking and may discourage more analytical thinking. Additionally, because of the small sample of knowledge that is tested, standardized tests provide a very incomplete picture of student achievement” this quote proves that tests do not do the job they are intended to.

Another reason why standardized tests should be eliminated is because students shouldn't have to take a test that the government just makes mandatory to get money. For example, “What about money? A 2012 report by the Brookings Institution found $669 million in direct annual spending on assessments in 45 states, or $27 per student. But that's just the beginning. The cost rises up to an estimated $1,100 per student when you add in the logistical and administrative overhead.” This quote proves that our schools have to buy tests just so parts of the government can get loads of money. The tests are not in the best interest of the kids. Another quote from EBSCOhost talks about how there are people making a lot of money from the tests but it’s not really benefiting us in a positive way, it says, “Who is to blame for America's high-stakes testing obsession, unique in history and in the world? Testing companies are collecting the cash, and politicians are passing the laws, but as parents, we are the ones who have allowed this to happen” (Kamenetz). The people have more power than we think if we really tried we could eliminate standardized tests if we were the ones that have allowed it to happen in the first place. We have the power to get rid of it.

Although tests are very stressful for students, some may say they prepare us. This is not always correct because these tests do not meet all children's needs, so they do not prepare everyone like they say they do. It just meets the general ones. These tests are not fair to all of the kids that are forced to participate in taking them.

It is obvious that these tests do not help us students. I propose that you illuminate standardized state tests from all schools in America. We will be able to learn and concentrate better knowing we don't have to stress over tests near the end of school. We will also have more valuable time during the school year to work on things that actually matter and will grow as as Americans and people. These are all the reasons why standardized tests should be eliminated from America. I think this topic matters to America because our youth in our future. Thank you for reading what I have to say.

Sincerely,

Annie Dailey