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After discussing the topic of education reform with my group, we came to an agreement
that a major problem with the education system currently is standardized tests. We debated over
many issues with the topic but the main thing we saw was that standardized testing does not truly
show a student’s full capabilities. To gain more insight on the issue, we spoke to Jeffrey Halter, a
In the interview, Professor Halter talked about how the education system does not put the
students, which are their main customers, first in decisions. I had never really thought about this
point before. Throughout high school, I took standardized tests like normal and never really
questioned it. I never stopped to think if the test was showing all of my capabilities or if taking
the test was truly beneficial to me. My group and I decided that hours of standardized testing
does not put the interest of students first. These tests put tremendous stress on the students
especially in schools districts with additional state testing outside of national tests. I see
standardized testing as “the easy way” for schools to choose their new students. It gives
universities and scholarship a few digit number that is supposed to adequately represent a
student’s capability which is not always the case. When you consider that most students are
taught that the score they get on these tests will dictate their future, it’s no wonder why students
are so stressed. That is not putting the best interest of the students first.
Another issue that I have personally found with standardized testing is the fact that
environments and extenuating circumstances are not standardized. When I was in high school, I
took the ACT three times. I scored well the first time, increased my score the second time, then
Audrey Ann Laster
HNRS 1010 Section 003
Shanon C Cunningham
8 April 2019
struggled a bit the last time. That day, the city was doing heavy road construction on the road in
front of my school. My seat was near the window where I heard the constant beeping of
construction trucks which affected my focus. When I got my scores back, it did not surprise me
that my score had dropped a few points. Reflecting back on that incident, I thought about how
many other students could have had their scores affected in that way. I also thought about the
students who may be having trouble in their personal lives causing them to focus less while
taking that test. If they scored lower than normal, that does not mean that they have less
knowledge. It could just mean that the environment is not ideal or that they have had a hard
week. I believe that this shows that a standardized test cannot truly be standard unless outside
In conclusion, while there is not much that can be done directly to change standardized
testing, we can still help the students involved. In the interview with Professor Halter, he spoke
about how communication is key. We have the responsibility to communicate to students that a
score on a test does not define who they are or the capabilities they have. Teachers should
communicate this as well as refraining from teaching students how to take a test. This is the way