Why breaking away from test-and-punish theory steps up American education

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Compared to other students in the world, American students are the most tested, yet least examined. The rationale behind its education system’s testing of students is this: Frequent testing enhances learning and attaching scores to a battery of multiple-choice type of tests is apt. Thus, the US government has made decisions in relation to issues concerning promotion or castigation of students, retention or retrenchment of teachers, and rewarding or punishment of schools when they fail in certain tests.

However, this test-and-punish argument actually blunts the country’s quality of education instead of strengthening it. Here are some reasons:

1. Schools, especially in low-income communities, reduce or eliminate teaching in non-tested subject areas, like science and social studies. This results to an inferior curriculum, giving learners the lack of knowledge and skills.

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2. When government punishes schools for incurring low testing scores, it pushes them to keep high-achieving students but kicks out underachieving ones. This discourages struggling students to get the learning they so need.

3. The test-based educational system redirects the focus into far more important disparities, like child homelessness, state funding system, and disintegrating schools in destitute communities.

The test-and-punish accountability is rooted in the notion that learning will not progress without the attachment of sanctions and punishments to students, schools and educators. But it’s high time to reconsider the lessons this country can learn from other developing nations, like Finland and Singapore. Although their students are less tested, the kinds of tests they run range from thought-provoking essays to oral examinations that require critical and problem solving, unlike America’s multiple-choice tests.

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Philanthropist Alex von Furstenberg is a philanthropist who values quality education among the youth. This Twitter page links to more information about his advocacies.