Education by it’s very nature is a process that is never the same in any two people – everyone learns at their own pace and no two minds function in the exact same manner. The days of education being a simple process with intensive one-on-one educational opportunities between student and teacher are a distant memory, replaced by the current system of standardized testing and the ‘move them on to the next level" mentality. Somehow in our collective desire to progress the educational process society has allowed the system to become more important than the purpose it was created to serve – to impart knowledge upon impressionable minds.
Along with all of the other so-called progressive educational measures, standardized testing has become an integral part of our educational system, and the debate of it’s worth is valid. Comparing children in an economically depressed region to those of a much more financially stable community is very similar to comparing apples to oranges. Chances are the children in the more wealthy community may have parents with a college level education, and more time to spend with their children on home studies. At it’s base, the more financially successful parents have time to help their children with educational issues, while less well-heeled parents are in a daily battle to keep food on the table. This is not to say one is a parent is better than the other, just the the realities of life can be harsh, especially in their impact upon children.
The ties between mandatory school testing for students and a school district’s ability to receive state and federal funding are strong and inflexible. A school system that tests poorly may have monies reduced to a skeleton budget, ensuring that students will receive a less than stellar educational opportunity for several years to come. This not only has a negative effect upon students, but dedicated professionals who have an earnest desire to teach are hamstrung by the lack of resources that are available to many other educators. A school district’s ability to hire and retain competent staff are limited, and the vicious cycle self-perpetuates due to a lack of basic financial resources.
Finally, school curriculum mapping is geared not toward individual student success and actual learning, but toward scoring higher on mandatory testing. The loser in all of this is the student, who has no say in the lesson plans, and is limited in their educational opportunities to explore a World of knowledge not included in the classroom agenda.