By Joe Mislansky.
My name is Joe Mislansky and I am a ninth grade student in Ohio, fourth in a class of almost 700. I am against the standardized tests that are being forced upon me and other students in America. We are being treated as numbers on a test. We should be judged by our accomplishments and progress throughout our high school careers, not a few tests.
A major reason I am against standardized tests like the SLOs and PARCCs is because they take time out of the day that could be used for learning. This school year, I will take approximately 20 state mandated tests thanks to the Common Core and the new state standards. SLO exams took up a period for each class which is 50 minutes lost. I have to take three english PARCC exams and those change three entire school days. Not only that, but an entire month of school is altered because most kids also take a science and math exam. Then we repeat the same process a month later for our end of course assessments and then we take finals shortly after. We lose time taking the tests and lose time practicing and preparing for the tests.
Another reason I am against standardized testing is that we don’t know their gravity. Ohio is adopting new graduation requirements that changed the graduation standards for my class of 2018 and on. I must get a minimum collective score of 18 on my exams to graduate. Some classes I have already taken, I will automatically get a three out of five on all those exams. This isn’t fair to me because I could have possibly gotten a better score. These tests are only scheduled for 9th and 10th grade. There aren’t state exams for classes I will take in 11th and 12th grade. Does that mean I’m done testing after 10th grade? Does it mean the graduation requirements will change every year as new tests are created? We don’t know. We don’t even know if these tests will be used next year. This isn’t fair to me as a student because I don’t know how important these tests are.
A third reason I am against standardized testing is that it isn’t fair for students to take a few tests that determine their graduation. Maybe that student isn’t a good test taker but is still a straight A student; they just get really nervous for these big exams. Maybe that student had a sickness, death, or divorce in their family which isn’t allowing them to think straight. Maybe that student is sick themselves but only came to school because they knew how important these tests were. Is that fair that a student has to miss these tests and school work later the next week because they missed a day of testing? Adults at work get sick days where they don’t get punished for missing work but as a student, you get a ton of work pushed on you to make up for every single day you are absent.
Overall, I believe that standardized testing is not what American schools should focus on. These tests are too time consuming, too unclear on what their results mean, and too important for the size that they are. We should not be treated as the data that sets our teachers paycheck. We should not be taking tests that give big corporations money. We should be treated as individuals and be allowed to pursue what we want to, not narrow our thinking so we can pass some tests.
Because of this, I have started a petition here. This is the White House’s official petition site. To get a response from them, we must reach 100,000 signatures by March the fifth. This is a huge task for one kid. That’s why I am writing this. I need help. I need people to spread the word. I need people to tell everyone they know, get their whole family to sign, share it on social media. I need this out there so we can put American schools back on track.
I’m tired of learning to pass a test. I want to learn to learn.
What do you think of Joe Mislansky’s petition? (Click HERE to sign.)
patjehlen
I don’t see how to sign this?
Angela
at the bottom of his text is a click here to sign.
Monty Neill
Where is the link to the petition?
Joe Mislansky
You have to click where it says “petition here”
Jeff Hirsh
Joe- I’m a reporter at Channel 12. I’d like to talk to you about your petition drive. I cover education. Thanks. Jeff Hirsh, Local 12 News 513-763-5589
Marla Kilfoyle
Link https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reduce-standardized-testing-public-schools-across-america/8S1wmvbW
Mary Dicker
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reduce-standardized-testing-public-schools-across-america/8S1wmvbW
rbeckley58
I just forwarded this to friends and family, first listing the petition address and then Tony’s article.
Trish Fraley
Go Joe!! Good Luck with your efforts!
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reduce-standardized-testing-public-schools-across-america/8S1wmvbW
Lisa Smith
This is a well written petition. Good luck in your campaign!
Todd Grathwohl
Well written! I admire your spirit and willingness to take action, which can’t be assessed by a standardized test.
Terri Borrreson
Stop Common Core!!
evelynkrieger
Hi Joe. I’m in the middle of writing a YA novel. My main character, a 16 year old boy, takes an action similar to yours. Thanks for the inspiration. I’m noting your name, this article, and I’ve signed the petition. Always remember: Your are more than a score!
nancy swanson
Well done
Julia Pettay
Signed and shared!
Laurel
I am a retired teacher who left the classroom earlier than planned because I did not want to just teach to the test. I admire your courage.
Farah
Well done !Finally someone is taking a stand.You study things in 9th grade and you take the test in 10th grade.How many adults remember books they have read after a year.There are thousands of children that are great students in every way but are very bad test takers .These test totally ruin their chance to get into good schools .Nobody sees what amazing students and how active they are in school and community .They just become a bad grade!
Pauls
Well written. Testing is terrible for these children. Learning should be fun not a nightmare to endure.
Mari
WELL DONE Joe Mislansky !! Good luck with your petition. . .I agree with you but cant sign as I am in Australia. ( I think President requires Americans only to qualify ) Best Wishes. . .you are on track for good future !
Regards, Marie
Lisa
Kudos Joe! As well as your parents. They raised you well!
Bessie Normand
I think he would have his 100,000 signatures if we could just figure out how to sign the petition. Even when I go to the web address that a few of you have put up I still don’t see where to sign.
Priscilla Burrow
well done to sign this