Standardized Testing…is it Truly Effective?

Whether it’s the SSATs, SATs, ACTs, or anything else, standardized tests are big here in America and other countries. These timed tests test your knowledge in three sections, reading comprehension, math, and vocabulary and have been around since the mid1800s. But are they really doing us any good? Does your future really depend on how many words you can memorize or how fast you can do algebra? Colleges would look at your score and if you didn’t score well, then you could be in trouble and not get into a good college. So standardized tests aren’t good for this country because they don’t improve student achievement and they are certainly not a proper way to judge student performance and intelligence.

Starting from the third grade, students are required to take these hour long tests that assess their knowledge on math, writing, reading, and science. But do these tests really improve academic achievement and development? No they don’t. In 2001 the No Child Left Behind Act was passed in order to fund schools that teach kids in the poorer districts of the nation. But this act has also required all students to take standardized tests. And since this act was passed, student achievement didn’t really improve. In fact, it plummeted. In 2009, the U.S. went down from 18th to 31st place in the math section of the Programme for International Student Assessment. 18th to 31st. Worldwide. There was a very similar drop in science but the reading remains about the same. So as you can see, these hour long tests don’t actually do us any good. In fact, they can hurt us.

Sometimes, that big number on your test is all it takes to get into that dream college. But is really getting a good score on the SAT or ACT really a good measure of student intelligence? I don’t think so. I understand why math is important and reading also, but is a big vocabulary really what it takes to get into that big university? Yes. It could. And not only that but your job as well. In a study conducted in 2014 by a former dean at Bates College, results show that some jobs though not many still ask candidates for SAT scores recent or not. And those with the higher score are more likely to get the job. Yet even though math and reading are important, there are many other traits that could get you that dream job. Logic, patience, willingness to work with others are some qualities you need in so many job and these tests don’t test any of these traits. And not every job has you go do math or read and write papers. So as you are studying for your SAT think about how it will affect your future.

~Francine

 

Should Teens Work?

 

As teenagers we are constantly asking our parents or grandparents for the latest gadget or article of clothing.  We would be able to buy these things on our own if we had our own money, and I’m not talking about our college savings, but our own earned money.  The cost of raising a child born in 2011 to age 17 will cost a family an average of $235,000 and that doesn’t  include the cost of college.  Activities and special clothing alone can add extra expenses to a family budget.  If jobs were available to teens then we could help with these extra costs.

Do you think teenagers should have jobs?  What types of jobs are available for teens who are still in school? If teens had jobs they would earn money while learning new skills and proving to be responsible citizens. Teen jobs help you to discover what you’re good at and help guide you in your decision for a future career.  Earning our own money will also help us to learn about finances and how to budget our money as well as our time.  I think some of the best jobs for teens would be babysitting, working in a grocery store, restaurants, library, veterinary clinic, or helping at nursing homes like Elim Park.  These jobs can be very rewarding for both the teen and the employer.

~Felicia Rosadini

You Are Not Special

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On June 1, a high school English teacher in Wellesley, Massachusetts, told the graduating seniors in his commencement speech the unthinkable. Nobody could have guessed what he said that day. It sparked a controversial wildfire across the nation, as some were aghast while others applauded. What he said was: “You are not special”. David McCullough Jr. told the students that they weren’t special, that there were a plethora of people on par with them regarding their skill sets, grades, and other aspects. He stated that in a country of 36 million people, there are thousands just like you. Great tasks were lessened and there are 7,000 people just like you were some facts also stated. In his speech, he touched upon many things referring to how we were being coddled by our parents and told we were special, how participation trophies cheapen worthy endeavors, and how we should get prepared for the real world. Whether you agree with what he said or not, it was a very controversial and influential speech.

Personally, I agree with him. There are thousands of other people just like us. In the real world, you’ll meet dozens of other people on par with you, and some even better. Some people think it is an atrociously pessimistic way to end your high school career, yet  believe it was just setting them up for what it would be like as they left. Once you’re an adult, suddenly trying your best isn’t good enough. People more capable than you will fill your position and it will be gone. The world doesn’t revolve around you. But I also think that people are special. They’re special to their parents, friends, sibling, and family. They’re special to their loved ones and the people who really matter in life. So even though it might be a rude awakening for some people, it enlightens people on the fact that they aren’t the only one going out into the world and that things aren’t handed out to you. It reminds you that even though you might not be special to your boss at Target, or wherever, you are special to the people who matter.

~Dan Fisher

You Choose

High school, the four years that determine the rest of your life. It all depends on how you do on your school work, your extra activities, and the effort you put in. Last week either January 6th or 7th all eighth grade students went to a meeting about course selection for high school, but it was more than that.  It showed us about our lives and how we choose our future.  As Ms. Razcka would say this depends on whether your gonna be the one curing cancer or the one flipping burger’s at Five Guys.  I guess it all is true.  Every assignment, homework, and/or project counts.  You never know exactly what your life will turn out like until you choose.  All the teachers say our grade was warned about that we aren’t giving our best in our school work, skipping assignments and not doing our homework. I say we all need to step up and start acting like we care, that we want to succeed and excel in what we do. This is our life, choose what you wanna be.

~Avery York

Economy

Today the United States is suffering it’s worst economy since the depression in the 1930s.  95% of the U.S. economy is held by 1% of the population which is the wealthier and richer people. The economy started to go down when banks were giving people who didn’t have any money big loans for houses. The people then were leaving and the banks were stuck with a house. This was happening everywhere and too many banks were losing money. The banks were forced to lower the prices which caused people everywhere to pay less.

This changed the economy by everyone paying less and less for everything. This caused companies to not make enough profit and close down.  In addition,  this led to unemployment and families not being able to buy anything for their “fun” time, and some can’t even supply their families with food. America is at a stand still and in a dangerous position with the money being spent. Banks, the wealthier people and everyone else has to step up and take control. One person cannot change the economy but if everyone does a little bit at a time, someday it will be built back up again.

If the U.S. went into another depression, getting into college could be very difficult, if less and less people go to collage and get real jobs then only the very smart people who are considered genius’s will be able to get a full 4 year scholarship and make a real living. This can lead to terrible measures of many families in the world being out of jobs completely and the homeless percentage will go up and up. The economy is the source of our lives and very important. The U.S. needs to fix it and if we don’t, only time will keep us from not moving forward.

~Josh Mayer

The Unemployment Crisis

Have any of you started thinking about what kind of job you want when you get older? Well, you will be lucky if you get any job. Unemployment is becoming a big thing in the United States. Thousands and thousands of people are being laid off in the U.S. Some have cut back hours and some have been fired. For the majority of this year, the unemployment rate was between 9 and 9.2 percent. This is the lowest it has been since March 2009.

With all this bad news, there is some good news. Employment in the U.S. is slowly increasing. However, there is still more bad news. While it is increasing, the employment industry has increased very little. Most employment is in electronic stores. Probably because there are lots of new things like the iPhone and iPods. I think that this is really bad. I know that some people say that unemployment can’t affect them. Well, It can. A parent or an older sibling can easily be laid off. Even if it isn’t your family, unemployment could affect a close friend. That friend could have to move away. Unemployment for anyone can really hurt their family. They might have to move away or go to live with another family member. either way, you are affected by this situation.

~Matt Schock