An Edublogger's Take on Standardized Tests

As research for my debate paper project in Professor Potter's class, I came across an educator's blog concerning his opinion about standardized tests. He is a high school teacher, but his position, location, and name remain unknown. I'm assuming this is the case because his post focused on providing reasons for being a standardized test supporter. I was immediately intrigued by his opening declaration, "“Let me come right out and say it….I am in favor of standardized testing in order for students to get their high school diploma." I was taken by this statement because the person's hesitation and seeming embarrassment about this assertion was pronounced even as text on a blog post. It was as if I could see his cheeks turning red. Regardless of my impression of this person or his opinion (wrong, he's wrong...) I was excited to find a blog that satisfied an assignment for two of my courses and one that related to my life. I even cared about what I was reading and felt some sort of emotion while learning! This man's argument is that we merely shuffle kids through school because we don't want to deal with them, or we give up on them because they are so behind. He asserts that because of our neglect as teachers, we aren't adequately preparing students to be beneficial citizens in society. In this case, I agree with anonymous blogger man. I feel bad for these kids. However, this is why we SMACers don't sleep and work extra hard in order to change the future in our own small, but significant way. So change on, colleagues. Keep kicking butt (and reminding me of assignment due dates)!