The Case Against Standardized Testing: Raising the Scores, Ruining the Schools

Rating:
Summary: To Test or not to Test
Review: Tests are all too common for students, parents, and eductors. The Case Against Standardized Testing by Alfie Kohn takes the reader to the world of unfamiliarity and raises the challenge against the all too familiar standardized tests. With Kohn's six main points against standardized testing, he effectively dives into the reader's subconscious. Kohn takes you back to your negative experiences either as a test taker or as test administrator.

"Norm-referenced tests are not about assessing
excellence; they are about sorting students
(or schools) into winners and losers."

Kohn exposes what is wrong with standardized testing. He furhter exposes how this type of assessment is damaging the students and schools systems of today.

Kohn's strong voice on this controversial topic, to test or not to test, clearly defines and exposes the negative effects of standardized testing to students accross the board. His experience as a former classroom teacher brings him as one seasoned and well qualified to his claim against standardized testing. If you are looking for a strong voice to support in challenging the current education system, this is one book you'd like to start with.

Rating:
Summary: An Educators Delight
Review: This book sheds light on the cases against standardized testing. As a future educator, I was please that my Professor chose this book. Riddled with great arguements against standard testing, it was a great jumping off point for papers and other class discussions. All future-educators should check this book out and see why standardized testing may be hindering our children's learning.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This offers excellent material for the case against standardized testing. I am not a teacher (but may be someday!), being a software engineer by trade, but my personal experience has led me to many of the same conclusions. Standardized testing is not really helping our students. There is quite a bit of substantiation for that claim, including the extensive references and coverage in this book. Too often we get students who are test-smart (not necessarily even book-smart), but are not independent or creative things. This book points out many of the problems and how we can take small steps to make a big and needed change.