<p>If the testing were for placing kids on tracks, that would make sense. But in this case, it is a bare minimum standard type testing. And then the schools end up ONLY teaching topics, because they need the highest scores possible within those tests.</p>
<p>You can view released copies of those tests online.</p>
<p>I think it is good to read about other education systems, and even history of education, and see what works. And what works for one child might not work for the next. My daughter used Singapore Math, while my next child is using an American program (with Singapore methods being implements). My older children for the high school maths used …one used Jacobs and Foeresters and the other used Life of Fred. They are both very different in how they learn. </p>
<p>I like Singapore’s discipline. I think sometimes they overwork their kids. I like Swedens methods, but I think they do not have enough discipline. Plus, they are a homogenous society for the most part, so much will work for them that will never work here. Oh…and none of the countries at the top waste education money on football or other sports. Sports have to be maintained outside of the schools, and outside of the education budget.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with telling kids that they need to work to get to where they want to be. Instead, our schools tell kids that it does not matter how hard you work, everyone is equal and we all should end up in the same place, and they try very hard to make sure that every single student is at the same place at the end of their years in K12.</p>