What would you consider a good standard for education?
831213
We have watered down the education so much that it hurts!!!!  We no longer group students according to ability, but teach to the middle.  High level students do not get challenged, low level students get more attention and your average students lets lost in the shuffle.  the homogeneous classroom is a federal law, no school can put students in ability groups.  Why?  Because it stigmatizes the lower level students.  Meanwhile, we are dumbing down our schools.  My mother and I are both teachers, it is sad to think that somethings we used to learn in third grade math are now considered fifth and six grade level.  Behavior in a classroom is also a part of the problem.  If I have a student that is disrupting the class,  he may have to stay in my classroom because there is no where to put him and his parents will not answer there phone or come get the child.  If they do get the child, they may say we have lied about his behavior.  Many people in America no longer value education.  I am watching students whose parents have immigrated from India, Viet Nam, and Central America rise to the top in their classes because their parents value education.
449962
Our universities are really good, but our K -- 12 public education is nothing to write home about.  In terms of expected duration of education, we're 14th, but in terms of the literacy of our total population, we're 68th.  Pretty dismal for a world power.
721080
It is a good way of checking how well we are educating our children.  If we can see they cannot spell the word Standardized, for example, we know there is a problem, and can take steps to address the problem.  If we don't have standards, we aren't aware of the problem until it's too late.  When you goto the market, do you just pick up pieces of fruit at random?  or do you check for bruises, insects etc.  Standards insure quality.
112566
First i would like to say that education sould not have differential goals.Why education should solely lead towards a good man not a big man.If this purpose is not based to the education, the institutional objectives should be set by teacher from time to time.
89100
If you want to become a teacher i would think its pretty good. All you read about is the shortage of teacher out there.
87096
I think education should be free for every residence of every country no matter were they come from and what there parents do.A society that does not provide for free education for its residence is causing problem for itself in future.FREE EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO OUR FUTURE
794500
Theres no such thing, because each US state (& then there's the US national standards) & each country have their own educational standards. You can't compare worldwide because of economic and cultural differences. Usually there are some very good schools in metro areas, but there's always the downfall of them being huge and overcrowded even though they have an abundance of resources. Suburbs and rural areas are sometimes the place to look. The circumstances vary so much from person to person and school to school, that that's why so many schools exist --- to harbor everyone's needs.
473047
Education: some public schools are good, some private schools are good.  Some public schools are not so good, and some private schools are not so good.  Some private schools cannot even get accreditation.\n\nBehavior: If one misbehaves in a public school, it takes forever to get them expelled, and sometimes they are not expelled.  In a private school, they can kick out anybody they want who does not act right.
791728
Honesty, integrity, a sense of urgency\n\nPassion for education of students above all.
239733
Yes... it's not particularly a great indicator of everything, but necessary for comparing scores with other areas.\n\nIf there was no standardization, an A in Vermont could be an E in Maine.
91145
They should be told the goal and standards of every lesson being taught before they begin.
1059094
If you don't trust the education system, just don't send your kids there... you don't need to cripple/alter the bad system. Let it extinct itself....
105887
No.  Education should be a local issue and should be decided by local school districts with guidance from a state department of education.
627316
NO,\n\nI agree that standardized test should an important part of a student's life but not the main. Colleges also consider you normal grades, class rank, gpa, extracirricular activities, leadership, etc.
32398
I wonder what is the scope of the term "education" as used by you.\n\nYes to a certain degree education is universal. Both should receive the same. Later on depending on temperament one can choose specific higher education follow-ups.
371095
Best, according to what....? It depends where you live or what you are looking for.\nBy the way, even in the same district they may be huge differences between schools.
916144
Standardized testing refers to the uniformity of procedure in administering and scoring a test.  This standardization is essential in order to compare one person or group of persons with another person or group.  And, to compare a person with him or herself over time.\n\nThe issue you are raising is not with standardized testing, but with how test content drives the content of the school's curriculum.  Restricting course content to the areas that will be tested ensures that more students will pass the test.  And, some school administrations do evaluate their teachers on the basis of numbers successful on the test.\n\nIn my opinion, the nation-wide emphasis on specific skills has negatively impacted the richness of past public primary and secondary education.  More and more parents and students seem to be coming to the same conclusion that you have reached.  Some are switching to home schooling or enrolling in private schools.  However, you can become responsible for your own enrichment without withdrawing from the public schools.  Simply change your expectations of what they are able to offer.  However, do your very best on the TAKS.  It is a serious endeavor.\n\nYou ask if this is fair.  The answer depends on how you define fair.  There is currently a powerful movement in this country to improve student performance.  It may be instructive to use causal analysis to examine the source of this movement.  Your questions are good ones.  Continue to be inquisitive.\n\nI hope this helps.  If you are interested, read more about the No Child Left Behind Act and how communities around the country have responded.