Standardized Testing

     It's that time of the year again! Welcome to hell week. The week of AP testing. AP testing really makes me look back on myself and others, especially in my school community. I live in a fairly affluent community. I am privileged to have the financial capability to take these Advanced Placement tests. This isn't just about the AP tests, it is also about all other standardized testing too. By living in an extremely affluent neighborhood I am able to take these tests. What about the impoverished kids looking in from the outside?

     I recently watch the movie Stand and Deliver. To me, the movie explained the hardships that are currently going through the lives of kids in such neighborhoods as Los Angeles. However, it also sheds light into my colleagues in schools much nearer to me, such as Chicago. Or even people within me own school. I took the ACT 4 times. One of them was payed for by the school, while the other times I had to pay for it by myself. Many students are only able to take it one time in their life because of their financial situations. It is a clear advantage to take the ACT more times. You tend to do better the more times that you take it. In regards to AP testing, as seen in the movie, some kids are just flat out not able to take the AP test. This restricts the, in many ways in the future. A sad event.

     These impoverished kids are looking from the outside in for most of their lives. However, strictly speaking in regards to standardized testing, their impoverishment restricts them in the future. These kids are then limited to attending high ranking universities. It is all a sad domino effect. The question is, what can be done about it. We seem to not care about these outsiders.