Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/nyregion/private-schools-are-expected-to-drop-dreaded-erb-entrance-test.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
Category:
Education
Level:
State
Concerning:
Dropping a controversial standardized entrance test that will allow a greater
array of children to be involved in better educational facilities.
This
affects families in a MAJOR way: I believe every parent, no matter what their
economic status, wants the best education for their children in order to secure
their future success as adults.
My
Views: Growing up in Texas, I am used to standardized tests and the stigmas
that go with them. Creating one test for hundreds of thousands of students than
can supposedly verify their intelligence level according to a set of predetermined
parameters seems very disconnected and ridiculous. The private schools in New
York have been using a test called the E.R.B as an entrance exam to their
establishments for years. The problem is, these exams are incredibly difficult
for the demographic of children they are testing, and the parents are going mad
trying to force their children to pass. Having these parents spend thousands of
dollars on tutoring and coaching for their 5 year old to get into the first
grade seems incredibly stressful for no reason. I understand the need for some
sort of interview process for these private institutions but putting that much
stress on a child to excel on a broad standard examination in order for him/her
to be able to go to school is not good for them. Instead I think the interview
process should be somewhat individualized to that certain child’s learning
capability, not all kids learn or perform the same way and shouldn’t be judged
the same way. I believe reforming these processes may help the children and
parents become a little less stressed and allow the kids to be able to show
their skills more effectively and get into better schools.
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