Kenneth Wesson 2001 asks:

1
Kenneth Wesson (2001) asks

• Why is it that those who know the least about
  child development and learning are the most vocal
  about the value of standardized tests- and often
  are most listened to?

2

• Why is it that parents whose children have been
  declared winners on such tests continue to
  pressure schools with demands to expand the use
  and importance of standardized tests?
• If poor inner city kids outscored children from
  wealthy suburban homes on standardized tests, do
  you believe we would still insist on using these
  tests as indicators of school success?

3
Dangers of Standardized Testing for Young Children

• negative effects of retention on self esteem
• disproportionately affects low income and
  minority children
• puts pressure on school systems to teach to the
  test so children will perform adequately
• drains resources of time and finds
• narrows curriculum to basic skills easily
  measured on multiple choice tests
• pushes down next grade curriculum