What am I asking myself about about state content tests?

I am conflicted about the merit of standardized testing. I believe standardized tests have a place as a tool to assess student achievement and I understand that it is difficult to otherwise account for the validity of the education across schools, given the many differences in teaching styles and curriculum. Standardized tests are excellent tools that can provide assessment of a student’s mastery of knowledge and can give information about a large demographic of children. Also, scored results can be helpful for college admissions. On the other hand, I think that standardized tests cannot measure valuable attributes such as creativity or initiative. More than ever, these tests are used to define school curriculum and to focus instruction in the classroom. Although I think that there is a place for standardized testing in schools, I am cautious about the dangers of over relying on them to define what is taught in the classroom, thereby taking away much of the teacher’s influence.