Education Secretary Arne Duncan is investigating No Child Left Behind and how standardized testing affects children, teachers and schools. Hopefully, Duncan is getting an earful! The Pros and Cons of standardized testing are in no way balanced.

Follow up:

The biggest argument in favor of standardize tests is that this is a less time-consuming means of assessing students than are other more complicated assessments which may take more personal time on the part of the teacher to complete. They are easy to administer to large numbers of students at the same time. As they are machine graded, this makes grading the tests and tracking the results fairly easy. Since they are standardized, students across the state or nation are accountable for learning the same material.

Unfortunately, there are many more cons than there are pros in the debate on standardized testing. Standardized testing affects what is being taught at a school and how the teachers teach their students. These test often negatively affect students, teachers and schools both emotionally and financially.

There is no nationally standardized curriculum in the U.S. What is taught in one classroom may not be the same material that is taught in another classroom within the same county, state or other states. More and more, as the stakes assigned to test results are raised, many teachers are "teaching to the test." This results in students receiving a narrowed educational experience with a learning experience that is not as rich as it could be. Many of the "extras" such as music, physical education and art are being pushed out.

One of the biggest negatives to standardized testing is the emotional impact it has on our children. The stresses posed by standardized testing....passing, graduating...a self-image that reflects "success" or "failure" are negatively impacting our national drop-out rate and the over-all health of our children.

We can affect change in our educational system. Let your local representatives and Arne Duncan know how standardized testing has affected your children and your schools. Together we can make a difference.

Until there are changes, find out from your child's teachers how standardized testing has affected the curriculum used and courses offered by your local schools. You may find that educational enrichment activities in the form of tutors and home instruction may be needed to provide a more balanced, rounded, full educational experience for your children.