Only Robots Take Achievement Tests

No matter what curriculum you decide to join, achievement tests will, some way or another, slither its way into your learning experience at school. It's a method - that does not regard external factors of the individual - to determine how well a student has developed or achieved certain skills or knowledge on a specific subject, henceforth 'achievement' test. The students are set in a timed environment where they aren't allowed to use references, devices, or even move around. Because, obviously, this is what the real world is like and will definitely prepare students for what's beyond that test. NOT.

I honestly believe that the writers of these tests block out any diversity students have to offer. Does... culture matter? Nope. Family backgrounds? Nope. The way you think and learn outside the box? Nope. We're supposed to think a certain way to get the right answer. Teachers are the engineers who wire robots (students) to follow a narrow learning path. A very narrow learning path. Creativity doesn't matter because anything that is written off what the expected answer is to be, then the machine will mark you off. It's dehumanizing kids!

Teachers would teach what the students should think according to test questions - never giving them the chance to be thinkers of their own; since they want their students to get the right answers. Surprise, surprise. Teachers knowingly do this because if they demonstrate that their students are doing well with the achievement tests, they would be considered "high quality" teachers. When really, they're sacrificing their students' creativity to get a better status. Better status = high recommendation for other schools and probably a higher pay.

Destroying our creativity destroys the innovation that we all look forward to in the future.

Although some may argue that this is the only way to prevent subjective grading and identify problem areas where the student needs to improve - I say, they have limited their way of thinking.

We need to find other ways to measure achievement other than a test. To be able to change this, we need to change our view of what achievement is. Rather than basing it on academic accomplishments, why not human accomplishments; how we can think without a box and create multiple solutions to a problem. Achievement should celebrate diversity! Not the way you can think like everybody else.

Just because you failed an achievement test, doesn't mean you've failed you.