Baker students on the road to becoming teachers had an opportunity last week to listen to author and activist Alfie Kohn give a speech about standardized testing in public schools.
Kohn, who is against standardized testing, gave a speech at the University of Kansas Oct. 2.
Many Baker University education students and faculty attended Kohn’s speech, which highlighted why current standardized testing policies in public schools should be changed.
“He had very good insight, and he was very informed,” senior Kendra Scarbrough said. “He was very entertaining.”
Even though attending Kohn’s speech was a requirement in several education classes, senior Beth Crandall enjoyed it.
“I’m glad I went,” she said. “He was very enlightening; he was very into his speech and very persuasive.”
Scarbrough learned an interesting fact about standardized tests from Kohn that she wasn’t aware of.
“A lot of state assessments are really biased. If too many minorities get a question right, that question is thrown out in next year’s assessment,” she said. “I was very shocked to learn that because I wouldn’t expect that to happen.”
Associate Professor of Education Merrie Skaggs also went to the speech and said she agreed with Kohn on some points and disagreed with him on others.
“I appreciated how he pointed out that, as a society, we assume that we need standardized testing to show educational progress,” Skaggs said. “He asked ‘Why do we have to?'”
Raintree Montessori School, Lawrence public schools, the KU School of Education and Baker University School of Education sponsored the event.
Skaggs, who also serves as acting chair of the undergraduate education department, said the Raintree Montessori School provided the “lion’s share” of the funding; the other three sponsors contributed an equal amount to the event thereafter.
Skaggs said Baker helped sponsor the event not to endorse Kohn’s beliefs but to provide another view on the subject.
She also said standardized testing plays an important issue in our society right now, which means current and future educators should be enlightened about the issue.
“National standardized testing is on everyone’s minds, especially parents and teachers,” Skaggs said.
