The Virtues of Standardized Tests

In a piece titled, “Tests offer important feedback,” homeschooler Heather Duncan argues the virtues of standardized tests.

You may not take standardized tests quite so seriously, and may even question their importance. Our ability to homeschool doesn’t depend upon test scores (at least not yet), nor do we get government entitlements when the scores are top-notch. Still, standardized tests do have benefits for homeschoolers.

First, they validate what we do as a movement. Regardless of the criticism, the numbers are in our favor, showing that homeschooling can stand up to the strictest academic standards.

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Second, testing is a way to get positive or negative feedback on how your homeschool is doing.

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Lastly, it gives the students a sense of accomplishment, that they’ve done their best, they’ve worked hard, and despite what they might think, they have learned something.

Yikes! To write, “Our ability to homeschool doesn’t depend upon test scores (at least not yet),” (my emphasis) and then claim that standardized tests validate the movement is so short sighted.

Duncan uses HSLDA’s “Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics” to bolster her position on testing. Backing your ‘validation’ argument with HSLDA’s ‘leadership’ makes this somewhat understandable, but no less short sighted.

HSLDA ‘leadership’ in protecting our homeschooling freedoms lost my support years ago. Read HSLDA Study: Embarrassing and Dangerous by Larry & Susan Kaseman for more information. For alternative ideas see, Countering Problems Created by Research on Families

Read Heather Duncan’s piece on testing here.

Tags: homeschooling, HSLDA, standardized tests, Tennessee homeschooling

This entry was posted on March 23, 2010 at 8:58 am and is filed under State News, Testing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.