The Washington Post
Print Edition | Subscribe | PostPoints
SEARCH:
washingtonpost.com
Web
| Search Archives

Challenging the High School Stress Tests

Thursday, September 20, 2007; Page T10

Dear Extra Credit:


(By Julie Zhu -- Montgomery Blair High School)

TOOLBOX

Resize Text

Save/Share +
Print This
E-mail This

COMMENT

Discussion Policy
CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

I am an eighth-grader in Howard County and am writing to express my opinion on test-taking in the public school system. In particular, I want to discuss the Maryland School Assessment tests.

As I head to high school next year, I feel more and more time is spent on preparing us for standardized exams and other required tests than on the curriculum.

The emphasis that the teachers place on our performance on tests is higher than what is expected in our ordinary class work. That puts a great amount of stress on the students, who feel that their scores on the exams are the only grade that matters.

I would be interested in hearing your views on this subject.

Julian Berry

Clarksville

High school seems annoying and off-putting in several ways.


CONTINUED     1              >

© 2007 The Washington Post Company