Derrick Smith
Kohn Critique
EDUG-414-Hanlon
1.) The author of The Case Against Standardized Testing is Alfie Kohn. Kohn is a former teacher and author of seven other books on education and human behavior. While Kohn is not currently teaching, he still is working with teachers and educators. He speaks regularly at national conferences and runs his own website He is regarded as “the country’s most outspoken critic of education’s fixation on grades and test scores” (Time Magazine). I don’t believe that Kohn really integrates his experience as a teacher to give the reader insight into the book. The reader doesn’t really get a lot of first hand accounts of Kohn’s teaching experiences. Kohn doesn’t explicitly identify his political affiliation, but I would have to believe that he is a democrat. His opinions and suggestions for changing the educational system in the United States are far from conservative.
3.) Kohn’s work is short so it is not really organized into specific chapters. Instead Kohn organizes his work into topic specific sections along with questions and answers about those topics. Kohn begins the work by providing background and context for the institution of standardized and high stakes testing in the United States. Kohn tells the reader how engrained standardized tests are in public education and how this poses a problem in schools. Kohn discredits nearly all multiple choice tests, including the famous ACT and SAT. Once Kohn has established some context on standardized testing for the reader he tries to relate the problem to teachers. He asks “Do teachers know the problems with these tests?” Kohn illustrates how many teachers working closely with students are aware of the problems of standardized but teachers, like the students, are victims of the system. Kohn points out that there is little that teachers can do about the requirements for standardized tests handed down from school administrators. Kohn points out that high stakes testing has come to the forefront of educating because it is viewed as a way to close the achievement gap across the spectrum of socioeconomic backgrounds in this country. However, Kohn points out that high stakes testing really furthers the problems of students attending poor schools in poor communities. In the second half of The Case Against Standardized Testing Kohn also offers alternatives to the high stakes testing model. Kohn states that the only thing that standardized accurately provides are a means of comparing school districts. Kohn argues that these comparisons don’t give an accurate account of the quality or achievement of the school. One of the most significant portions in the second half of Kohn’s work involves how we as teachers can “Fight the Tests.” Standardized tests and the high stakes testing model are so pervasive in American education that many who even disagree with these tests refuse to fight the tests because it would require a massive overhaul. Kohn says that this type of “defeatist” attitude needs to be removed from the minds of teachers and administrators. Kohn advises teachers who are required to administer standardized tests to not let their teaching methods become contaminated by “teaching to test content.
5.) While I do agree with many of Kohn’s opinions on standardized testing, I would like to challenge some of his claims to gain more information on the topic. Kohn spends much of the beginning part of the book telling the reader that all forms of standardized tests are flawed. However, I don’t think he offers enough of explanation of why so many people think standardized tests are effective. For standardized tests to become so prevalent in the United States there has to be some evidence that they work. I would like to ask some college admissions counselors why they value ACT and SAT scores so much. Do they themselves see some problems with standardized testing, and do they rely on those scores simply because other colleges do. I also would challenge Kohn to point out examples of the biases that exist in tests. Certainly if certain minority groups at a such a significant disadvantage because of tests biases, these biases must be blatant within the test’s content. I would ask Kohn to some examples of these biases. I do agree with Kohn that high stakes testing has become entirely to prevalent in public education, but I think there are a few ways that Kohn could make his case even stronger. Kohn needs to take on some of his would be critics and dispel their arguments. I think Kohn book is too one-sided and accounting for the other side would make his argument more convincing.
7.) Kohn does not explicitly address the idea of democratic or social justice education. However, I think the message of both is implicitly prevalent throughout the book. Democratic education attempts to effectively and equally educate all students. All of Kohn’s messagein the book is that high stakes and standardized testing do not effectively and equally educate all students. Kohn disagrees with standardized tests because he thinks they are useless tools in education that take away from the learning of students. Also, Kohn argues that these tests are biased and are just another example of how minority students are at a disadvantage in schools. Standardized tests are being used a major indicator of student’s learning and academic ability. Kohn argues that these tests do not accomplish either task, and therefore Kohn is implicitly saying that standardized tests do not provide democratic education for students.
9.) Kohn concludes the book by offering a series of suggestions and alternatives to standardized testing. Kohn states that the only thing that standardized accurately provides are a means of comparing school districts. Kohn argues that these comparisons don’t give an accurate account of the quality or achievement of the school. Interestingly, Kohn suggests that increased parent involvement could help decrease the need for the high stakes testing model. If parents become more involved with teachers and are given written descriptions of their children’s learning then tests may not be needed as much. Kohn goes on to suggest the “portfolio” as a useful assessment tool for students. The portfolio provides information and assessment that is more valuable than a simple test score. The portfolio allows for students to exhibit an improvement in performance over time, and also the chance to show a wide variety of projects and skills.
I would agree with the effectiveness of the portfolio assessment. I think that a portfolio allows students to focus more on their progression on learners rather than simply trying to perform well on a test. A student who studies and memorizes content for a test is likely to forget it. A student who continually works on the content of the course and tries to improve their performance will be able to better retain those skills and information. I also thought that Kohn’s suggestion that students should attend parent teacher conferences was interesting. I believe by bringing the student into the conference it could strengthen the student’s relationship with teacher and parent, while also helping their academic achievement. Students often feel as though people are telling them what to do from all sides. I think this causes students to have a rebellious attitude and they become less likely to enjoy school and have an appetite to learn. If students are included in the conference it gives them a chance to give input into their education. Students who feel more included will want to learn more from their schooling.
One of the most significant portions of Kohn’s work involves how we as teachers can “Fight the Tests.” Standardized tests and the high stakes testing model are so pervasive in American education that many who even disagree with these tests refuse to fight the tests because it would require a massive overhaul. Kohn says that this type of “defeatist” attitude needs to be removed from the minds of teachers and administrators. Kohn advises teachers who are required to administer standardized tests to not let their teaching methods become contaminated by “teaching to test content.” Kohn also suggests informing parents that the tests are going to be given in class and they will be taking away from the normal curriculum. This could cause parents to get more involved in fighting standardized tests. I agree with Kohn’s suggestion. I think one of the reasons that standardized tests are so prevalent today is because so many people believe they are effective and necessary in schools. If parents and the public knew more of the negative effects of standardized tests, I believe they would become less prevalent in our schools. Most people only read about standardized tests from score reports in newspapers or in campaign speeches of politicians. If more people knew the truth about standardized tests, then less people would be content with having them administered in schools.
Kohn states in the book’s final pages that “drastic times call for drastic measures.” This could be the one portion of the book where I tend to disagree with Kohn. I agree with him that the prevalence of standardized testing in America is a major problem in our schools. However, I think it is a bit unrealistic to believe that a number of teachers could mobilize themselves to fight against the system the way he is suggesting. I believe something needs to be done about standardized testing the United States, but I believe it needs to be a process where teachers begin to change the minds of administrators and then administrators change the minds of school boards and school boards the minds of politicians.
11.) I think I have gained a lot of understanding from reading The Case Against Standardized Testing. I’ve always heard people complain about standardized tests, but I usually assumed that the reason they didn’t like them was because they didn’t perform well on them. Kohn has provided me with some concrete evidence to prove that standardized tests are faulty. In my future as a teacher there are several things that I will do to prepare myself for standardized tests. I know that with the No Child Left Behind Legislation gaining momentum that I will face the pressures of standardized tests in the classroom. As a teacher I think I need to find a balance between being to provide an equal, engaging, and unique curriculum, while still being confident that my students have the skills necessary to perform on standardized tests. As an opponent of standardized tests I think I need to be confident enough to speak my mind on the topic and make sure that other teachers that share my beliefs aren’t afraid to speak theirs. I am going to try my best to not “teach to the test.” There is one issue that I am not sure how I will deal with in my classroom. NCLB requires that students and schools perform well on state assessments. I know that I disagree with standardized tests and I need to find a way to inform my students that these tests are not a 100 percent accurate indicator of their ability, but also I need to try to encourage them to perform well on the tests.
One of the most important things that I will take into the classroom will be alternative assessments. I thought that Kohn’s commentary on increased parental involvement, and portfolio assessments could be useful tools in my classroom.
13.) I think I need to gain a greater understanding in several areas. First, as high school teacher I know I will be teaching students that are trying to prepare for the ACT and SAT. As long as these tests are used to gage potential academic success in college, students are going to have to perform well on them to achieve their collegiate goals. I think it would be useful for me to help students gain the knowledge and skills to excel on these tests despite my opposition to their importance. I also think I need to gain a greater understanding of other ways that teachers can speak out against standardized tests. I thought suggestions given by Kohn in the book were too extreme. I think there should be a way to achieve a balance between protesting against standardized tests and losing your job. Perhaps one way would to be for teachers to organize themselves in schools and find alternative assessment techniques to be used in the classroom. If teachers themselves star to use other assessment tools in the classroom, then hopefully some of those alternative assessments could be expanded to a larger scale and appease the desire of politicians and administrators to assess students on standardized tests.