K-12 education in the United States is often criticized for its failure to provide students with fundamental knowledge. As a result, they are unprepared for higher education and cannot perform well in the workplace. There are several reasons for this, including standardized tests, ineffective grading system, and teacher bias.
Standardized Tests
The notions of “standard” and “accountability” related to school testing are highly debatable. The American Psychological Association [APA] (2015) states that students’ knowledge and skills should be measured with reliable and valid assessments (p.29). Ideally, standardized tests are supposed to show which students excel or need extra support, thus promoting their improvement. In reality, however, it is not always the case. Eggen and Kauchak (2020) argue that teachers often focus on teaching students how to pass assignments instead of providing them with fundamental skills and insights, which lowers the standards of education (p.667). Besides, there is always a possibility of a measurement error, meaning that the student’s actual level can be higher or lower than the results show. Tests do not promote memorizing and research of information. Consequently, school graduates often lack knowledge.
Grading System
Another essential problem is the American grading system. It has only five options for measuring students’ success, which is not always enough to account for improvement or decline in academic performance. According to Guskey (2014), grades are often used as rewards or punishments to ensure students’ compliance (p.98). These factors make schoolchildren lack motivation and can harm their self-esteem by making them doubt their abilities.
Teacher Bias
Teacher bias often co-exists with unfair grading. It can be caused by prejudice, stereotypes, or unconscious decisions. Examples include racial, gender, and implicit bias based on personal preferences. A teacher’s attitude plays a vital role in students’ motivation to progress and achieve more. If some schoolchildren are favored while others are neglected, it will affect their self-image and promote discrimination.
Conclusion
While standardized tests have drawbacks and often fail as assessment tools, there are many other problems that harm the K-12 education system. Unfair grading and bias affect academic performance and worsen students’ motivation. As a result, graduates lack knowledge, have low self-esteem, and often cannot find incentives to become better. To bring change, teachers must address these problems and do all they can to eliminate them.
References
American Psychological Association, Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education. (2015). Top 20 principles from psychology for preK–12 teaching and learning. Web.
Eggen, P. & Kauchak, D. (2020). Using educational psychology in teaching (11th ed.). Boston: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Guskey, T. R. (2014). On your mark: Challenging the conventions of grading and reporting. Solution Tree Press.