https://padlet.com/stofkowa1_1/8toj04tvwlq59ze3 en-us 2021-01-15 13:13:47 UTC 2026-01-17 17:41:17 UTC hello@padlet.com stofkowa1_1 https://padlet.com/stofkowa1_1/8toj04tvwlq59ze3/wish/1113823206 We need to reform the educational system. There are a variety fundamental flaws in our country's system that need to be addressed immediately. One of these flaws has to deal with standardized testing. This is of utmost importance to me because I want my children and their descendants to have the best schooling they can possibly have, and I do not feel that the current system would give them such an education.]]> 2021-01-22 12:53:46 UTC https://padlet.com/stofkowa1_1/8toj04tvwlq59ze3/wish/1113823206 stofkowa1_1 https://padlet.com/stofkowa1_1/8toj04tvwlq59ze3/wish/1113857148           For some background information on how we got here, we can trace many of our issues back to the times when George Bush Jr. was president. One of his policies culminated with the No Child Left Behind Act, which focused our educational system on standardized tests at the federal level. President Obama doubled down on this with the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. Although it 'replaced' NCLB, it didn't change much at all, with standardized tests still being the main focus of schools countrywide.
        Both of these acts were made with the intention of lessening the gap between students of different races and classes while simultaneously improving overall scores. Although scores were improved, it was done at a great cost. In order to reach the 100% proficiency requirement of NCLB, schools made their entire curriculum focused on these standardized tests at the expense of other topics that would not be tested. To be fair, test scores did improve, but the curriculum now focuses solely on preparing for the standardized tests, and nothing else! This has to change, and standardized testing mustn't be the focus of our schools any longer! #EducationReformNow]]> 2021-01-22 13:06:22 UTC https://padlet.com/stofkowa1_1/8toj04tvwlq59ze3/wish/1113857148 stofkowa1_1 https://padlet.com/stofkowa1_1/8toj04tvwlq59ze3/wish/1113857499     To get started, most people would consider me to be a top-notch student, and I think this praise is well-deserved. I get my work done, turn it in on time, and often get an A for it, no questions asked. I do good on tests compared to my classmates, and often I find myself not needing to study for them. 
   Now, I want to talk more about these tests. Last October, I had the option to take the PSAT as a Sophomore instead of a Junior. One of the things I noticed on the test and many others was how hypothetical these questions could be. In math problems, most of the work you have to do is simply putting your formula into the calculator. It's a good thing to do to practice putting that formula into use, but that's the big problem. I wasn't really putting it into good use. This might not be an issue with testing, but most schooling in general. Practically is underplayed while "what ifs" mean everything. I didn't get any real experience from taking that test, just a few numbers that said I was good at taking tests (surprise!). 
Since schooling is now based around these standardized tests, teachers don't get to focus on real scenarios in which a student needs to carry on an assignment. Instead, it's nonsense like Johnation buying 73 watermelons or whatnot. Honors Chemistry was the only real class that gave these real-life situations, and I loved it! Anyways, I think that standardized testing has ruined education by removing practicality from our courses. To only way to remedy this is through #EducationReformNow.]]> 2021-01-22 13:06:30 UTC https://padlet.com/stofkowa1_1/8toj04tvwlq59ze3/wish/1113857499 stofkowa1_1 https://padlet.com/stofkowa1_1/8toj04tvwlq59ze3/wish/1113857804     In our country of over 330 million people, there are a multitude of groups and organizations fighting against the dominance of standardized testing. It'd be best to take some time to recognize some of these groups
   One of these groups is the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest for short.) It's a nonpartisan group that seeks to "end the misuses and flaws of standardized testing and to ensure that evaluation of students, teachers and schools is fair, open, valid and educationally beneficial." It advocates for opting out of high-stakes testing and improving the educational system as a whole. It can be found at fairtest.org.
   Another group to mention isn't even an organization, but rather an individual person. Nancy Bailey is an advocate for education reform, which includes ending Common Core Standards, the corporatization of schools, and, of course, high-stakes standardized testing. A teacher herself, Nancy is well-versed in her studies. You can support and learn more about her at nancyebailey.com. And remember, we need #EducationReformNow!]]> 2021-01-22 13:06:36 UTC https://padlet.com/stofkowa1_1/8toj04tvwlq59ze3/wish/1113857804