Vocational Education Vs. Standardized Testing

Plenty of schools focus on the scores that come from standardized testing. Though standardized testing is not going to help a student get to where they need to be in order to gain their career. In fact, standardized tests are mainly being used to measure a teacher’s ability to teach (Manalo 1). Why are schools basing their curriculum on standardized test scores rather than teaching vocational education courses that will help students later on in their lives? There are many different vocational courses which include; nursing, food ethics, computer solving, office management, and even cosmetology. Give high school students vocational classes or let the school system crumble. Vocational courses better prepare students for the years to come. Vocational courses prepare and teach and create leaders and are well rounded. Every student deserves to have an opportunity at success and vocational classes will organize them in the manner they need to be prepared. These classes narrow one’s focus so they are able to discover what they want to pursue for a living. (Ziliak 1). Vocational classes open up “doors of opportunity.” Cannot use the excuse that teaching vocational education in schools would lower the chances of getting into college because college credits can be earned through these courses. In 2012 students engaging in the Kokomo career center earned 834 credits from Ivy Tech Community College (Ziliak 2). Apparently vocational classes prepare students for real life situations and put them on the right track towards their dream career.

As many schools use standardized testing to measure their student’s growth they do not realize that standardized tests do not reflect the character of children which will definitely not encourage succe...

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...re a type of authentic learning. Vocational education adds: variety, relevance, and purpose.

Works Cited

James, Howlett. "Industrial Arts: Call It What You Want, the Need Still Exists." Industrial Arts: Call It What You Want, the Need Still Exists. N.p., Mar. 2008. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.

Manalo, Taylor. "Civic Issues." Civic Issues Site Wide Activity RSS. Civic Issues, 1 Apr. 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.

Watkins, Bill. "Do Standardized Tests Raise Dropout Rates?" Newgeography.com. New Geography, 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.

Jorgenson, Olaf. “What We Lose In Winning The Test Score Race.” Principal 91.5 (2012): 12-15. Education Research Complete. Web. 7 Feb. 2014.

Ziliak, Lindsey. “In Vocational Courses, Ind. Students Get Early Glimpse Of Careers.” Community College Week 25.14 (2013): 11. Education Research Complete. Web. 7 Feb. 2014.