Debating Standardized Tests - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1226 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/06/24 Category Management Essay Level High school Tags: Standardized Testing Essay Did you like this example? Some people like them, some people despise them, but ultimately everyone has to take them. These are what schools like to call standardized exams. These end of the year, state-administered exams have been debated since their beginning, and there is good reason for that. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Debating Standardized Tests" essay for you Create order Although supporters of standardized tests believe they are an objective measure of student achievement, opponents admit to the overwhelming cons that include educators teaching to the test, the neglection of external factors, and the terrible stress induced from these exams. While proponents of standardized testing make some valid points, the pros do not outweigh the overflowing cons, which is why standardized testing should be eradicated. One of the biggest problems with standardized testing is an issue called teaching to the test. Because teachers are so pressured to have their students earn high marks on these standardized exams, this is leading to declines in teaching higher-order thinking, in the amount of time spent on complex assignments, and in the actual amount of high cognitive content in the curriculum (Procon 4). To counter this, proponents of standardized exams defend teaching to the test by deeming it an effective method, as it focuses on essential content and skills and at the same time eliminates time-wasting activities that dont produce learning gains. However, to say that standardized tests eliminate time-wasting activities is simply not valid. Are creative assignments and projects considered time-wasting activities? How about higher-order thinking and high-cognitive content? (Redel 2). Even if teachers were to cover the subject matter perfectly as required by the standards, something has to lose out. Sure, the students might master the material on which they are to be tested, but if that means forfeiting more time spent on encouraging creativity and deeper analysis, are these exams worth it? Another problem with standardized testing is that these so called accurate evaluation tests do not consider external factors which could affect a students performance. On the other hand, groups supporting standardized testing feel that these exams are an efficient and accurate way of assessing a students work. But what if a student is undergoing a lot of stress or is having family issues? Students can quickly and easily become overwhelmed with anxiety a bad test score may mean missing out on admission to the college of their choice or even being held back (Meador 1). Supporters of standardardized testing seem to conveniently overlook that cultural factors, unfamiliarity with testing methods, test anxiety, and illness can wreak havoc with how well a student performs (Nixon 2). Every persons story is different, and no one can or should assume to know ones personal situation. There are too many contributing components in students that can cause ineffectual results, deeming standardized testing imperfect to say the least. Just as everyones life story is unique, so too is everyones way of thinking. For this reason, standardized testing is inadequate as an educational evaluation and assessment tool. Rather, it encourages a simplistic way of thinking, where there are only correct and wrong answers (Tabner 1). For example, what if the test only consists of multiple choice, but the student excels far greater at short answer questions? What if the test contains only true and false type questions, but the student does not perceive the world as simply black and white (Nixon 2). The reality is that high test scores could simply mean a student excels at memorization and multiple choice test taking. While it is easy to assume that students who score high in any particular subject are thereby good at processing information and reasoning abstractly, that is not always the case. Another problem with standardized tests is that they prevent students to prepare for a rewarding adult life. While it is true that with these tests, students can get better at taking tests and developing certain skills, what about real life skills such as understanding the economy and being able to make daily decisions? Instead, students learn to decide which bubble to fill. Real life questions do not have merely four cut and dry multiple choice options from which to choose. Life is about making critical decisions, learning about the path you wish to take to find the correct answer, and traveling down that path (Meador 2). For instance, a hospital administrator is not going to ask a surgeon how to do an operation because the hospital administrator is going to expect him or her to actually do it (Erdberg 2). Furthermore, when someone crams the night before an exam trying to remember information like dates or vocabulary terms just to get an A on a test, the information will most likely end up being forgotten the following day. Conversely, when students actually learn how to take the knowledge they have learned and apply it to real world situations, they are much more likely to remember it. (Redel 1). Standardized exams may successfully test a students knowledge in the moment for purely regurgitated facts, but if these tests do not prepare a student for life after they walk out of those school doors, it begs the question if there is ultimately a practical purpose. This is a topic that relates to me personally in a multitude of ways. These standardized tests give me tremendous stress and anxiety, causing me to do worse on the test. I am smarter than my score leads the outside world to perceive, but standardized exams do not accurately project my learning capabilities. This could cause me to be put into classes that are below my intelligence level, which can be viewed as subpar to my parents, colleges, and, most importantly, be the wrong class for myself. Instead, I feel that there should be more than one test to determine a students intelligence. Alternatively, I suggest that schools give multiple tests on fewer subjects at a time throughout the year, which can help reduce stress and more accurately represent a students capabilities. Having multiple tests throughout the year to demonstrate ones strength instead of having to cram all the information learned the whole year onto one test can more wholesomely portray a students proficiency with eac h subject. A major issue with standardized tests is that they fail to reveal other amazing talents that I have. Students: Do these test results contain factors such as your funny personality or your abilities to work with others? Admission Officers: Would you rather have someone who is a perfect test-taker, but is not good at working together with others on a big project? Well, if you ask me, I would rather a person with a goal-oriented and determined personality who works well with peers. That is who I am and would hope others would value me for. These tests are like one piece of a puzzle. It shows only one tiny corner of the image, but focuses entirely on what I dare to say are the wrong pieces. While the puzzle, admittedly, could not be complete without these pieces, the problem is that these pieces are linked by issues such as teaching to the test, declines in creativity, inclines in stress, and a narrow perception of what a student truly stands for. All the other pieces are equally important and we cannot forget that without them, we can never see the whole picture. Standardized tests only show one piece of me, but I am more than just a letter grade or number on one test.

Information Technology - 1980 Words

ANALAYZE THE EXTEND TO WHICH THE KENYAN SOCIETY CAN BE REGARDED STRATIFIED INTRODUCTION Social stratification refers to the ranking /ordering/classification of people in a society as determined by various parameters which includes language, gender, power, tribal affiliation, education, religion as a result of education. Stratification is wide spread in the Kenyan communities as a result affecting the economic, political and social relationship among the Different communities in Kenya, discussed below are the factors which make Kenya be regarded as stratified. EDUCATION The education system has seen much of stratification being a key element in stratification; Kenyans have seen many disparities in the education system offered†¦show more content†¦Some communities also holds on to taboos which oppress women giving an upper hand to the male counter parts. An example includes the Luhya community where women do not take chicken because of their gender. Gender disparities has seen most women being disowned off their the poverty level in women as they keep depending on men for their upkeep. Inheritance differences between the two gender has enhance the superiority of male child over the female by excluding the females from having a share of their fathers property. This discriminatory land ownership has further deepened the gap increasing the dependency on male partners or close relatives. Limited access to contraceptives and sexual education because of social taboo regarding sex and global limitations placed on organization that disseminate such education , women have limited autonomy over their bodies resulting in increased risks and over population. Women are also restricted by custom which essentially prohibits them from owning land especially those in lower class. WEALTH Kenya is a country characterized by abject poverty on one hand and conspicuous wealth on the other hand. Many communities in Kenya in Kenya still count their wealth in terms of cattle and grains. There’s the perception of deliberate unfairness and inequality in the distribution have a basis in the real practice of successive .this perception have a basis in the real practice of successive Kenyan government.Show MoreRelatedEssay on The Civil War in Kenya1931 Words   |  8 Pagescountry between the newly formed Kenyan government and the Somalis of northern Kenya, who desired to unite with the Somali Republic. In an attempt to marginalize the secessionist movement, President Jomo Kenyatta coined the term shifta, or â€Å"bandit† in Oromo, to classify the military wing of the Northern Province People’s Progressive Party (NPPPP) in charge of anti-government raids. 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Flags of Our Fathers Letters of Iwo Jima Free Essays

‘Flags of our Fathers’ is a movie directed by Clint Eastwood and takes place during World War 2 about the Battle of Iwo Jima. The film circulates around the five Marines and the lone Navy solider who raised the American flag on Mt. Suribachi. We will write a custom essay sample on Flags of Our Fathers Letters of Iwo Jima or any similar topic only for you Order Now Although the photo was taken when they raised the replacement flag, since the military wanted to keep the original so politicians would not take it and put it in their home as a shrine. There were only three survivors out of the six that raised the flag, so they were shipped back to the United States. When they got back they travel the United Stated shaking people’s hands and telling them about the photo in order to raise money for the war. Throughout the trip Ira is constantly getting drunk and eventually gets shipped back to his unit as he wished since he made the General very angry. The remaining two soldiers continue to travel and raise money. After the war ends, all three finally get to go home. Although two of the soldiers struggled with their life after the war, since one went on to become a school janitor and the other hitchhiked across the country and could not escape his past. While the other soldier bought a funeral home and ran it until he passed away, he was the only successful one. All three saw each other one last time at the unveiling of the Marines War memorial, which was a statue of the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi. ‘Letters from Iwo Jima’ was also another movie about World War 2 involving Battle of Iwo Jima directed by Clint Eastwood, except this film shows you the other side of the war. It shows you what the Japanese did to prepare for the war and shows there perspective of it. Although it mainly focuses on a few soldiers and one particularly, who was a just a young man who was a baker who got drafted. It starts off when Japanese soldiers were digging trenches on the beach then the General comes and changes everything. He tells to start digging tunnels for what they thought would be a better defense. Since the Japanese fleet was destroyed he did not think it was necessary to have trenches on the beach. Then the United States invaded Iwo Jima, they quickly over took the beach. Shortly after, they quickly took over all of Iwo Jima. The Japanese soldiers knew it was over so some started committing suicide but the young baker refused to and got away trying to save his own life. He then travels all the way across the island where he meets the general, who saves his life. In returning the favor, the general asks the baker to burn all his military documents and basically gives him a chance to go back to his family while he leads one last attack. He then burns all the documents like he was told but decides to put all the letters in a bag and buries them in the dirt so someone can find them. Some years down the road they are found and that is how the story is told from the Japanese point of view. ‘Flags of our Fathers’ and ‘Letters from Iwo Jima’ both take place during World War 2 which was from 1939 to 1945 but the battle both movies focuses in on took place on February 19th, 1945. The message Flags of our Fathers is that no matter who you are you can always make a difference. All it takes is faith, consistency and hard work. The flag raising was also very patriotic and it gave many Americans hope that we had won the war and it was over. Although they failed to realize what the Americans had to go through in the war, they just saw the picture and realized everything was fine and came up with their own story on what they think happened. While in ‘Letters of Iwo Jima’ the Japanese soldiers were also very patriotic I believe. The film shows you that you should never disrespect your country regardless of what type of situation you are in. You should always fight, stand up, and have pride for your country and never take the cowards way out. In the film ‘Flags of our Fathers’, I believe there is one bias. This is that the people of America mainly just paid recognition to the three soldiers who raised the flag and seemingly forgot about everyone else fighting in the war. Yes I am well aware of that the movie focuses on that flag raising, but they even said so in the movie that people saw the picture and assumed victory and came up with their own story about it. At first while watching the movie while reading the questions I thought it was pretty obvious that the two marines and lone navy corpsmen were the heroes of the movie but later on I found out that there were no heroes. In the final scene of the movie, the son of one of the soldiers states; there is no such thing as heroes and the soldiers were uncomfortable being called heroes, since heroes are something we create and need. It is a way for us to understand what is almost incomprehensible. How people could sacrifice so much for their buddies. They may have fought for their country but they died for their friends with a man in front and a man beside them. If we wish to truly honor these men, we should remember them how they truly were. After I heard that statement he made, it really opened up my mind and made a lot of sense. I strongly believe in that statement, they were just regular guys doing what they ordered to do. Then enemy in the film is clearly Japan since there is no other option. That is the country we are fighting in the war against. Yes, I believe both countries were treated fairly and there was no misrepresentation of history. I think Japan got what was coming to them and is a perfect example of the old saying â€Å"what goes around comes back around†. Since they attacked China several times and even had the courage to attack the United States when they bombed Pearl Harbor. So it is not United State’s fault they were beaten so badly in the movie because quite frankly, they started it but could not back it up. In ‘Letters of Iwo Jima’, it is hard to determine if there are any biases and I do believe that there is not any. Also, the heroes of this movie were also hard to determine. Although, I believe there were two different heroes on the Japanese side of the battle. I think the first hero was General Kuribayashi, since he saved Saigo who was the young baker’s life three different times. The first time being when he said unpatriotic things about Japan to his friend then the Captain overheard and almost killed him before the General stopped him. The second came when the same captain tried killing him again for not obeying orders when he left Mount Suribachi and the General saved him again. Then the third time was when the General told him to stay behind and burn all the war documents and letters while he led one last attack. Obviously, the second hero I believe was Saigo since he chose to bury all the letters instead of burning them, therefore people could know what really happened on Japans side of the battle because if had not have buried them, nobody would have never knew. The enemy is obviously the United States since they are the ones Japan is trying to defend their country from. Japan was treated fairly but they could not match up well with the United States since they started bombing all these countries and thought they were invincible and lost their Navy Fleet, which was the main reason why they lost the battle so quickly and easily. How to cite Flags of Our Fathers Letters of Iwo Jima, Papers

Precycling The Essence of Conservation Essay Example For Students

Precycling The Essence of Conservation Essay Precycling: The Essence of Conservation As we shift into a new millennium, our society must face the pressing environmental issues that we have ignored for so long. The earths resources have dwindled tremendously and unnecessarily in recent years. People need to start saving our precious resources through precycling. Precycling, a fancy word for waste reduction, is any activity that prevents or minimizes the toxicity or quantity of waste. This would include product reuse, increased product life, reduced material and energy use in product design, and changing purchasing and waste producing habits. Toxicity reduction includes changes in product and packaging designs, and purchasing reusable toxic items rather than disposable ones. Precycling should be a higher priority than any of the other waste management methods, including recycling. Waste reduction is the most environmentally friendly form of waste management because, unlike other methods, there is no need to process or transport materials. As a result energy and resources are saved. Source reduction is hardly an issue with companies and consumers. It seems like a contest of who can put the most excessive packaging on their products. The good news is that the decisions we make every day can support precycling in a big way. Schools can be role models for precycling and plant a seed for students to take action. At Ashland High School, the back side of paper should never be wasted. Printers (with available technology) should print on both sides as well. On assignments done at home, homework could be put on a disk and given to the teacher to view, rather than be printed out for one-time viewing. Reusable plates and utensils should be used in the cafeteria rather than wasting hundreds of paper plates every lunch hour. While precycling can be accomplished at AHS, students need to be informed on what they can do in their own lives to save our resources. Its surprising how ignorant most people are to the trashing of our planet that is going on around us. People want to save the earth. However, they need to know whats going on, and what can be done to stop it. A 20 minute lecture from a qualified environmentalist is a great start. D. A.R.E. is now mandatory at Ashland Middle School. Why not make a C.P. R. (David Browers acronym: conservation, preservation, and restoration of the Earth) course required at the high school? Or why not have an assembly once a year to get the wheels turning for precycling and CPR of the environment. These informative classes or assemblies could include numerous positive ideas for students to grasp. The session could start by presenting facts like these from The World Watch Institute: packaging makes up 1/3 of all garbage, and although the U.S. only makes up 5% of the worlds population, we use 40% of the worlds resources. The session could end with Five Ideas of Precycling that they can apply to their lives: 1) buy reusable or refillable products instead of disposable ones; 2) buy products in bulk or concentrate; 3) buy products with reduced packaging; 4) buy products that are grown or manufactured locally; 5) buy long lasting and durable products. Examples that relate to each of the five points could help students become active immediately. An example for idea #1 would be to recommend that students bring a plastic mug to coffee shops instead of using a paper cup every morning. We cant wait any longer, and nobody else will do it for us. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe proclaimed years ago, Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c , .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c .postImageUrl , .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c , .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c:hover , .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c:visited , .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c:active { border:0!important; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c:active , .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc85ec0876b9ab899765e255299623e9c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: History Of Depression Essay Bibliography: .