BY KIERRA LEWIS
As students in Texas, we are required to take the STAAR test, a readiness assessment in order to move to the next grade level and eventually earn a diploma. These tests have been forced upon us since we were in the third grade.
Personally, I am a horrible test taker. I have been a straight "A" student ever since I can remember, yet when I am taking a test that hold a lot of weight towards my future, my test scores may not reflect my actual knowledge on the subject. Keep in mind that if you fail the test, no matter what your grade is in the class, you are automatically off track to graduate on time and have to continue to take the test until you pass in order to get back on track. If we, the students, pass the class with a certain grade than it is only right that we should be exempt from taking the STAAR.
One of the things that bug me about the test is that we base our entire education system around it. There has even been cases where schools and even districts have been shut down because of low scores. It is the sad truth that I am in class being taught strictly to pass a test. There have been times where I have asked a teacher to go into depth about a topic and been told that it is basically irrelevant to discuss certain things because it isn't required to know in order to pass the STAAR. I feel as if I am denied knowledge to some aspects of subjects, simply because Texas tells my teacher that I do not need to know. I'm pretty sure that my teachers want to teach me more than they have time for -- they're being held to the test, too, whether they want to be or not.
Unfortunately, this is our education system and no matter what my little voice says, the voices of Texas' education system will always over power it.
As students in Texas, we are required to take the STAAR test, a readiness assessment in order to move to the next grade level and eventually earn a diploma. These tests have been forced upon us since we were in the third grade.
Personally, I am a horrible test taker. I have been a straight "A" student ever since I can remember, yet when I am taking a test that hold a lot of weight towards my future, my test scores may not reflect my actual knowledge on the subject. Keep in mind that if you fail the test, no matter what your grade is in the class, you are automatically off track to graduate on time and have to continue to take the test until you pass in order to get back on track. If we, the students, pass the class with a certain grade than it is only right that we should be exempt from taking the STAAR.
One of the things that bug me about the test is that we base our entire education system around it. There has even been cases where schools and even districts have been shut down because of low scores. It is the sad truth that I am in class being taught strictly to pass a test. There have been times where I have asked a teacher to go into depth about a topic and been told that it is basically irrelevant to discuss certain things because it isn't required to know in order to pass the STAAR. I feel as if I am denied knowledge to some aspects of subjects, simply because Texas tells my teacher that I do not need to know. I'm pretty sure that my teachers want to teach me more than they have time for -- they're being held to the test, too, whether they want to be or not.
Unfortunately, this is our education system and no matter what my little voice says, the voices of Texas' education system will always over power it.