Teacher Tea
A Crisis in the Classroom
Perry Rettig, a professor of education, argues in “Teachers Are Being Rushed. It’s Not Fair to Them or Their Students,” for The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, that the current emphasis on broad curriculum coverage and standardized testing is harming both teachers and students. He contends that this approach, which prioritizes quantity over quality, leads to rushed, superficial instruction and a decline in higher-order thinking skills. Rettig calls for a return to a deeper, more rigorous curriculum that allows teachers to focus on mastery and student engagement. He also expresses concern about the impact of standardized testing on teacher morale and student well-being.
Proponents of standardized testing assert that the results of such testing can provide valuable insights into student learning and inform instructional decisions. Moreover, test scores can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching methods and curriculum. But critics like Rettig say that standardized testing can narrow the curriculum, emphasizing rote memorization and test-taking skills over critical thinking and creativity.
Does standardized testing lead to better learning? And whom does it really benefit?