Why so many tests?
Testing Students in the United States has increased substantially since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. Proponents of increased testing state that the data testing provides, gives us important information to improve our teachers and our schools. The belief is that schools and teachers are failing and we need to make them more accountable.
Negative Messages to Teachers
The message to teachers is that we need to be pushed to do our jobs well. We should be judged by our test scores and face consequences for not measuring up. I’ll never forget a meeting I was called to a couple of years ago, in which I was asked in front of colleagues, why my test scores were lower than my partner teacher. I was shocked that my administrator didn’t even know that my partner had all of the accelerated students and I had the mid to low students! So many factors affect test scores. Poverty, emotional trauma, and family issues are all factors out of our control. The emphasis on test scores can create a competitive environment that has a negative effect on teacher morale. Teachers are pressured to “teach to the test” in order to not be judged.
Teaching well is more than a score
What teachers know is that teaching students is not like creating a product on an assembly line. Students come to us with emotional issues, family difficulties, and temperaments of all kinds. In order for students to learn, they must feel safe and loved. Teachers must weigh all of these factors and make decisions based on the students we have.
Schools in Finland
Finnish Schools appear to be on the right track. Here, students excel in reading, math, and science in a low stress environment, where teachers are highly valued, and trusted to do their jobs. There are no standardized tests in Finland, no competition among schools, and no rankings. Equality among students is important. The differences between the highest and lowest performing students is among the smallest in the world. And the perception that Finland has the advantage of a homogeneous population is no longer true. The country has a very high immigrant population.
Teachers in Finland spend far less time in the classroom each day than American teachers. This gives them more time to plan and strategize with colleagues. Children spend more time playing outdoors. Formal schooling doesn’t even start until about age 7. The belief is that children learn better when they are ready. This philosophy of learning is so radically different than what we experience in the United States.
Why are we still testing?
Teaching children is so much more that a score on a test. If we look at the big picture, what we really want, in my opinion, are citizens with character who will continue learning long after they graduate. Learning should be relaxed and joyful, with rich exploration. This just doesn’t occur in the high-stress, test-obsessed environment Learning happens naturally when teachers and students are relaxed and happy. So why are we still testing?