The Pressure in Today's High Schools

Standardized testing is suppose to benefit a student in many ways but a lot of kids don’t feel like it does. Some students have fear taking a standardized test. Those kids who make good grades but get usually get nervous before tests, normally struggle while taking their exam. Many times it causes students to stress and feel overwhelmed distracting them from their grades. (Ms. Moore), a teacher in Ohio believes that, “you don’t teach kids to perform well on standardized tests, you teach kids to learn, to enjoy learning and to not treat it as such a negative. When did learning in America become a negative?” (Analysis; Pros & Cons). Though education isn’t always fun, it shouldn’t cause students to stress over a test score. It also makes students give up once they know their test score is low.

A standardized test is an examination that is scored in a prearranged manner; there are two main standard tests, aptitude and achievement tests (Ascd). Aptitude tests predict how well students are likely to perform in an educational setting, and achievement tests are what the school board looks at to base schools’ success (Ascd). As these tests become more difficult and the number of test continue to increase, so does test anxiety and it’s many factors (Gotter). Stressing and worrying over performance on a test, affects students from kindergarten all the way up to PhD students (Gotter). Several components occur when testing situations are at play, such as experiencing intense fear, nervousness, and sometimes even bordering terror (Zuriff p.198). Those who have this setback sometimes consider themselves as “bad test-takers.” There are three causes for them to panic when testing

Such pressure on students does not help them to become quick learners, or more adaptable, but instead it makes them confront the feeling of failure, which is uncalled for. Since the tests are also sought as a measure of a teacher’s performance, they also stress out teachers, even though the scores students get change based on what test they are taking which makes it difficult to judge a teacher. Standardized tests are also known to give younger students tons on stress in the form anxiety which can affect the brightest of students in such a strong manner that the Stanford-9 Exam has instructions on what to do if the student vomits on their test booklet. This clearly isn’t a sign that students enjoy and/or appreciate the

There are too many external factors that could influence a child’s test score, yet, we’ve allowed standardized testing to determine a child’s future. “For example, test anxiety has grown into a subfield of educational psychology, and its prevalence means that the tests producing this reaction are not giving us a good picture of what many students really know and can do.” (Kohn, 2000) The high amount of value American society places on standardized testing can cause a high amount of anxiety, which can be associated with a fear of failure. “While the pressure to perform well can act as a motivator, it can also be devastating to individuals who tie their self worth to the outcome of a test.” (Test Anxiety) Test anxiety can manifest itself in the form of an anxiety attack, which can cause symptoms such as difficulty concentrating and brain fog, among a multitude of other uncomfortable manifestations. Anxiety, along with many other factors, can alter a student’s ability to display their full potential. (Test

School is a crucial part of a person’s life due to the amount of knowledge and successability a person might gain in their future. School can also be a place where students can interact with their fellow friends, but for others it can be a traumatizing place due to the amount of stress and also responsibility they might carry . This can be because of the stress teachers may put on the students. This can lead to students not giving their full effort on school, which will cause them to be mediocre students, and they wouldn’t be able to show their teacher the true potential they carry within themselves. These types of students are the one’s who are typically the students that aren’t successful in school. They just don’t

For one thing, tests cause anxiety for students. Most students in elementary, middle, or high school are under extremely high pressure to perform well on these tests, as it affects their future greatly. SAT scores affect people when applying for colleges, jobs, and other aspects of their

As a junior in high school, there are many obstacles a student has to overcome. Grades, student ranks, college, ACT, SAT,etc. We stress over these tests every day because it has a big impact on our future. Teachers and parents always have high expectations of students to do well and get high test scores, which puts more pressure on the students when taking the tests. Everyone would want to score a 36 on the ACT to get a full ride to any college they would like to attend, but sadly, not everyone scores a perfect 36. When taking these tests, money also gets involved. Being in middle class, tuition cost is a major factor, which we can’t afford. For example, when taking the ACT, the higher your test score is, the more money a college/university will offer you. Therefore, trying to achieve a high score adds more pressure. Stressing over the tests can cause many students to panic and causes test anxiety which can always affect a student’s performance on the test. Six times out of ten, there are students who simply do not do well on tests. According to Columbia University, if a student argues with a parent the morning of the test, the chances of their focus being mainly on the test, is less likely. Often

Continuing a post-high school education is a massive pressure that parents give their kids and in most cases, the reason being, is that they want their kids to have a better way of life than they themselves ever had. Usually the topic of college arises when the child is in high school and the options of whether or not it is the best decision for the person seem to be the topic of most dinner table conversations. In some cases the only option is going to college. This stubborn and strict attitude can be traced to the parent and the social class or economic hardships they have raised their children around, compared to the one they could have if they continued their education.

Nowadays there are so many problem in the schools of America. The biggest problem school faces is stress. Stress is a state of mental emotional strain or tension on the brain or body. One of the ways kids usually get stressed is from homework. Teachers today assign about one homework sheet for each class which means we get at least seven items of homework to take home a day. Another area of stress for students is grades. Students feel a lot of pressure from their parents and teachers to get good grades. If students don’t get passing grades, they have to redo the classes and this is very stressful. Finally, kids feel stressed because of all the pressure they get on the end of trimester or semester, all the teachers telling if you don’t

The next reason too much homework is harmful to students is that studies show more homework to cause lower test scores. One to two hours of homework a week does not cause a major change in test scores (Wolchover). There is no evidence of homework having any academic benefit in elementary or middle school, and the academic benefit found in high school is very weak (Kohn). Homework is not shown to help students academically until grades ten through twelve (Wolchover). There is also no proof that homework increases good study habits in students (Kohn).

School testing and finals cause unimaginable stress on kids. According to greatschools.org, children, ages 7-17, treated for depression has more than doubled between 1995 and 2001. That's from school related stress. School shouldn't be about passing. Students should not be so overwhelmed from studying for tests that they become depressed and dread going to school. School is about learning and and when students learning gets in the way because of stress, then students dont want to go to school.

Over the years, the education system has changed. The development of society has led to many of its aspects facing alterations in order for it to properly adapt. Regardless, society has not resolved all the problems that exist within the school system. A myriad of issues remain, particularly in high school. High school students typically lack interest in school, yet find interest in school sports, television, current events, or any other similar items and ideas, placing their focus there rather than on their classes.

Depression, eating disorders, sleep deprivation, ADD, ADHD. The list goes on for all that can come with the stressful life of being a student. Our rigorous system does not help to alleviate this stressful environment, but instead it creates this environment. If schools cared so much about how well students are educated, shouldn’t they try to make the process of education more open and care free? Suicide rates are soaring among teens. Students are averaging six or seven hours of sleep in a night while they should be getting at least nine. (Robbins.) Schools should be supporting student well-being over how they score on tests. “If a child happens to show he knows any fact about Astronomy, or plants, or birds, of rocks, or history, that interests him or you, hush all the classes and encourage him to tell it so that all may hear. Then you have made your school-room like the world.” (Emerson.) A student should never be put down for what they show a passion for. Support,

“Practice makes perfect”, a phrase designed by our parents and mentors to teach us about dedication, integrates into our brains from an early age. It teaches children that only hard work and dedication can result in perfection. This saying remains in one’s brain through middle school and into high school, carrying over a certain mindset that induces stress. Pressure from parents, teachers, and even peers to get into college adds to this stress and can seriously affect the mentality of students. For some, success in high school dominates their every waking hour, their every action, their every thought. As a high school junior, I know all too well the stress of maintaining a good grade point average (GPA). From ap classes, to ACT prep courses, my days revolve around getting into college. While this pressure to perform can push students to achieve higher and higher grades, it comes at a cost. Although a competitive grade point average in high school can help students get into college, obsessing over grades causes many students to develop psychological issues and poor school habits.

High school students face many problems with the education system. They have become expected to be ready for anything life throws at them, when in reality they are struggling with the obstacles thrown at them on a daily basis. School is the one major problem adolescents have had to deal with growing up. Undergraduates hear that “high school is the best four years of their lives” but how can it be the best when there is something more important or nobody truly cares about their education?