Standardized Testing

I spoke to some teachers recently about standardized tests and had an honest conversation.  I said that I don't understand why my children can perform FAR above the school's level, the district's level, the state's level and the nation's level and still not be considered in the highest bracket on some of the test's levels.  How do they determine these levels?  If they are testing above literally 94% of the nation in these tests, then why are they not considered "above the standard?"  What is "the standard" and how is it determined?  I received the two most honest pieces of ear candy I could have heard.

The first one is that standardized tests are mostly created by people who know nothing about the learning process.  It's a bunch of suits sitting in a room deciding that kids should be at this standard.  Their "standard" is a fantasy standard created by a bunch of uninformed people making a choice to set unrealistic goals. Teachers should be more involved in this process.  Real teachers.  In fact, teachers should be more involved in the entire educational process instead of this common core bullshit that doesn't benefit the overall educational system at all.  Yes, the educational system could use some modifications but more government involvement isn't what's needed.

The second part is that standardized tests are made to make kids fail.  Well, that's the theory anyway.  These tests are made to make kids fail so that they can keep saying that the kids aren't performing well and then they can control things even more.  The reality is that if the kids don't meet their unrealistic standards, they can keep saying that we, as parents or the educators are at fault....and not the system being what needs changed.

I don't put a lot of stock in standardized tests, even though my children (overall) perform well in them.  I put more stock in what the educators that work with them say, how they perform in every day life and the fact that they love to learn.  I am a firm believer that a love of learning will benefit a child far more than a thousand mathematical formulas.  A love of learning can move mountains.