STANDARDIZED TESTS GOOD FOR SELLERS, SCHOOL PRIDE

There is probably no facet of the educational system that is more mysterious and more misused than that of standardized testing. I have been questioning parents, school patrons, students and anyone else who would listen in an effort to find out just how much they know (or don't know) about testing. Answers are always the same. Most people know absolutely nothing about what test scores really mean, and, worse yet, they don't know one type of test from another.

One of the best examples concerns the SAT and the ACT, both of which are most often used, even required, of all students who apply for college admission. Neither is designed to measure a student's I.Q. Neither is designed to be an achievement test.

Simply stated, these tests are academic APTITUDE tests. They are designed to ATTEMPT to find out how well a student MIGHT do in the FIRST semester of college.

Research tells us that both of these tests are overrated. College admissions people like to have the test results simply as an indicator; but they want a whole lot more than a test result, i.e., high school grades, honest recommendation from school officials, local citizens, personality traits, work habits, general attitude toward school.

A few years ago the state of Missouri mandated the BEST test for eighth-graders. Some people in the department of education and the state assembly were elated with the adoption of this test. It would revolutionize basic educational achievement. It would tell us what we need to know about how well out kids are being taught. Now these same people have sacked the BEST test and replaced it with the MMAT (Missouri Mastery and Achievement Test). This new sets of tests will be replaced by still another brainchild out of Jefferson City. This is in the process of being done now.

The only reason our politicians and education big-shots come up with tests like this is because it makes excellent public relations propaganda. The favorable impact that these tests make on education achievement is so minimal that it results in a monumental waste of time.

Teachers should teach and students should learn. This is what school is all about. Taking time out of classes to administer standardize tests is upsetting and demeaning to the students, is misleading to the parents, and in the long run accomplishes nothing that would enhance academic excellence.

Many of our schools have been administering basic achievement tests once a year for many years. Here's what often happens. The teacher administers the test. The teacher has access to the questions and the correct answers. The teacher (naturally) teaches subject matter to fit the test questions.

Therefore, most students do well and the superintendent can brag to the public about how smart the local students are compared to those somewhere else.

The entire program of standardized testing is wide open for cheating, also, and believe, some (not all) will cheat to the ultimate. You show me a state or federal program where cheating is not done, and I'll show you a dog that meows.

Educational excellence cannot be measured by standardized test scores. Quality in educaiton can only be achieved by the joy of learning motivated by teachers who love to teach and students whoa re receptive to learning.

When students graduate from high school or college and seek a job, the prospective employer is not likely to place much emphasis on the an applicant's ACT, SAT, BEST, MMAT, or any other alphabetical conglomeration of tests. The prospective employer will do his own type of testing.

I must say that the only people who always come out on the top of the testing game are those who construct and sell the tests. Selling test is a multibillion-dollar industry, and these people are excellent at marketing their product.

If tests are so all-fired valuable in schools, I suggest we use them on ALL people who seek public office. One can be functionally illiterate and still be elected to office. One can also be immoral and cheat on his travel vouchers and still attain public office.

Let's quit blaming the schools for all of our ills, and instead demand quality from the top on down. Quality education cannot be measured by the ACT, SAT or any other standardized test.

Ken Young of Branson is a retired educator.