School Assessments

I chose the topic of school assessments for my research paper. President Bush has passed an act called “No Child Left Behind”. This act is supposed to help the students of America have a better education. Test scores for assessment tests are down across the country and “No Child Left Behind” is supposed to help bring those scores up. I feel the act does not work. Schools are only focusing on test scores instead of their students. I am not positive, but I am pretty sure schools are given a certain amount of money due to how well their school overall does on the assessment test. This incentive only draws the teachers away from their students’ needs and to making sure they have their students get a high enough score. This is happens because teachers are then looking at their benefit and what they will lose if their students do not do well enough. Although test scores might be rising due to “No Child Left Behind”, are the students really gaining the knowledge they need?

When I was in elementary and middle school I took the TCAP every year. My teachers would take a week or two before the test to teach only the information on the tests. I would learn the information, take the test, and then forget it all. Not only do I feel the information taught for assessment tests is pointless, I also feel the test is not always a good judgment on a student’s knowledge. I never did well on the TCAP and therefore looked as if I was not a good student. This perception of me would totally change if my report cards were viewed. I was a straight A student for most of my elementary and middle school life, with occasional Bs. Obviously the two did not match up. I do not feel these tests are a good way of assessing today’s students. The government should reexamine the “No Child Left Behind” act and figure out what will really benefit the students.

I plan to be a teacher in the near future and want to start learning now what “No Child Left Behind” is really about so I will know what is expected of me, as a teacher. I want my students to learn things that will actually be useful to them. Students taught only the material on assessment tests are missing out on information that will help them in life. I really hope to understand issues on school assessments in our country and more specifically how it affects schools in Memphis. I have heard they are trying to find a different way on coming about the issue of low test scores and how to help the students of America receive a better education. I want to learn more about the issue now so I can have my own opinion and fight for what I think will be best.