Gregorash 1

Lexi Gregorash
Mr. Newman
English 101: Rhetoric
19 September 2014
Statement of Scope for the Annotated Bibliography
People say there are two topics that should never be discussed in public; politics and
religion. However, education and reform could definitely make it on that list. Ever since George
W. Bush enacted to No Child Left Behind Program, there has been numerous arguments as to
how this program should be ran. One aspect that especially divides people is the use of
standardized tests. The government has begun to use them to base the academic performance of
students, often leading to stress of students needing to excel, and also create fiscal costs to the
schools. Although some may believe standardized testing is beneficial for the placement of
students, these tests often create financial uproar, and stress for students, potentially causing
inaccurate placement.
This essay will explore the constraints testing places on schools, administration, and
students. I will examine the pressure placed on students by taking these exams, and how their
score may not accurately place them in classes that would be beneficial. Further, I will address
the financial concerns, and consequences these tests place on schools. Examples will be provided
with views from schools, the board of education, and politicians. I will also address the views in
favor of the tests, which include the ease for government to look at scores and supply necessities
to schools accordingly.
This selected bibliography includes sources from newspaper, journal, and magazine
articles. I chose articles that would include information on the financial toll of schools and the
stress placed on students.The Atteberry, Ravitch, and Travis essays all opposes the use of
standardized tests due to the financial cost, the pressure placed on students to do well on the
tests, and the fact that students only memorize information to pass the test. Ravitch and Travis
both agree for the need of education reform, and suggest ways of doing so such as testing
different aspects of learning, and the need for better resources. On the other hand, the Popham
and Atteberry essays argue in favor of standardized tests because it helps the government see
where students are at academically and how the government should delegate resources based on
the test scores. These sources do not mention all arguments for both side, however they create
solid stances, whether they are in favor, or opposed to standardized tests.

Gregorash 2

Works Cited
Atteberry, Emily. Board: Lets Ditch Standardized Tests. News Press [Fort Meyers] 13
Aug. 2014: n. pag. elibrary. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. In Emily Atteberrys article, Board:
Lets Ditch Standardized Tests, she examines Floridas decision to remove standardized
testing from a school district. Too much money is being spent to take these tests, and
Florida doesnt want to supply those companies with money, when they dont feel the
tests are benefiting students, she reports. In addition, they want to remove the pressure
these tests place on students to do well.
Caruso, Lisa. Schoolyard Quarrel. National Journal 15 Sept. 2007: n. pag. elibrary.
Web. 17 Sept. 2014. In Lisa Carusos article, Schoolyard Quarrel, she examines the
meeting of Democrats to further the No Child Left Behind program. In the article, the
argument for keeping standardized tests is that it helps the government get a general idea
of where students are at, in order to help or close the schools. In addition to monitoring
progress, test taking minimizes the racial gap, since the government looks to the scores as
a whole, not based on the individual child.
Popham, James W. Uses and Misuses of Standardized Tests. National Association of
Secondary School Principals 1 Feb. 2001: n. pag. elibrary. Web. 15 Sept. 2014. In James
Pophams article, Uses and Misuses of Standardized Tests, he argues mostly the
strengths of standardized tests, but also references their possible issues. Informing
teachers and parents of a students progress, placing students in appropriate classes, and
allowing for the supplement of resources are the greater aspects of standardized tests, he
argues. He references the issues using these tests to evaluate students, teachers, and

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schools, but counters this by pointing out the publishers of the test typically discourage
these misuses of the tests.
Ravitch, Diane. Dictating to the Schools. The Education Digest (2011): n. pag.
elibrary. Web. 15 Sept. 2014. Diane Ravitchs article Dictating to the Schools, she
evaluates the educational policies put into place by the Bush and Obama administrations,
such as The No Child Left behind Program. This program has been used by both
administrations to base schools academic achievement or failure, and to reward or punish
the schools accordingly. The children thus learn only how to take a test, and she believes
to better the education system is the need for teachers and administrators that truly care,
and give them the resources to promote subjects to create an enjoyable learning
environment.
Travis, Jon E. Meaningful Assessment. (Alternative Student Assessment Methods).
The Clearing House 15 May 1996: n. pag. elibrary. Web. 15 Sept. 2014. Jon Travis
argues in his article, Meaningful Assessment (Alternative Student Assessment
Methods), the need for other methods such as Testing by performance, interviews,
journals, and other suggested methods create a more accurate evaluation of student
growth because it examines more aspects of learning. He evaluates the flaws with the
tests and argues that they only teach students to learn temporary material to pass the
exams. Travis feels that the best way to teach and evaluate the knowledge absorbed by
children is to test different areas of learning, and only then administration can get a
mostly accurate view of the learning done by the students.