Examining the Impact of Three Education Policies on Today’s Students
Education is the cornerstone of any society, shaping the future generations of our world. However, with various education policies being implemented globally, one needs to understand how these policies impact the students who are at the heart of the process. In this article, we examine the impact of three education policies on today’s students.
Policy 1- Standardized testing:
Standardized testing has become a prevalent policy in today’s educational system, with an emphasis on scoring systems, grades, and test results. The theory behind this policy is to hold schools and teachers accountable for their educational outcomes. However, such policies can have a negative impact on students in multiple ways.
Firstly, students who are not good at standardized tests can develop feelings of inadequacy and low confidence, which can impact their overall academic performance. Secondly, teachers may focus mostly on “teaching to the test” rather than complete learning, leading to a lack of creativity and analytical thinking among students. Lastly, students may experience undue pressure while taking the exam, leading to anxiety and stress.
Policy 2 – No Child Left Behind (NCLB):
The No Child Left Behind act was a policy implemented in the USA in 2001, providing federal funding to schools with the goal of achieving higher educational standards. However, this policy has garnered criticism over the years. The primary criticism is that schools focused only on testing results, leading to the exclusion of non-tested subjects such as science, social studies, and arts from the curriculum.
Additionally, low-performing schools were closed down, leading to many students being transferred to other schools, which disrupted their academic progress. Many educators have argued that the No Child Left Behind policy failed to address the root cause of the problem, such as poverty, underfunding of schools, and inadequate teacher training.
Policy 3 – Inclusion:
Inclusion is a policy that aims to provide equal opportunities to students regardless of their socioeconomic background, race, gender, or disabilities. This policy allows for students with special needs to be included in the same classroom as others. The aim is to create an inclusive learning environment that promotes socialization, diversity, and empathy.
Studies have shown the positive impact of inclusion on students, such as increased self-esteem, improved academic performance, and better social skills. Furthermore, students with special needs have shown improvement in their behavior and communication with peers when included in a regular classroom setting.
In conclusion, education policies can have both positive and negative impacts on students. Standardized testing has its limitations, and the No Child Left Behind policy failed to address the root cause of educational inequalities. In contrast, inclusion policies have shown positive effects on students and created a more inclusive learning environment. Educational policymakers need to evaluate the potential impact of policies to ensure that they benefit all students and help to create a better future for our future generations.
