WOODBURY — Rows and rows of students hunched over the same small, black Chromebooks — almost like they were copied and pasted — throughout the whole classroom, the same sorrowful looks on all of the kids’ faces.
Most of them had already checked the clock five times in the last five minutes, disappointed when the clock had only moved a smidgen.
Nonnewaug High School issues NWEA testing to students yearly; this year, exams consisted of a reading, math, and science section. Many students have expressed their agony over the tests, calling it a nuisance.
“I didn’t enjoy taking the NWEA tests,” says Katie Alexander, a senior at Nonnewaug. “They’re super long and draining.”
Teachers have also contributed to the discussion around NWEA testing, and precisely why they didn’t enjoy giving them out to students.
“I don’t enjoy giving out the NWEA tests,” says Dave Green, a wellness teacher at Nonnewaug. “I know the kids hate doing it and so it makes me not want to give them out.”
Not only do students call the NWEA tests lengthy and mentally exhausting, but they say that the tests also take away from schooling that’s happening in their subjects.
“I feel that the test took away from time in my AP classes,” said Alexander. “We could’ve used this time for learning more important things.”
Even though some may see these tests as a nuisance, to a certain degree, they can be beneficial to students’ learning. Some students have a different outlook on NWEA tests such as this optimistic view.
“It’s no fun sitting down for standardized tests,” says Lily Mizak, a senior at Nonnewaug. “However, it’s information the state needs, so, I guess it’s OK.”
While Green said the test doesn’t interfere too much with his class, he sees how NWEA tests can affect teachers in other courses.
“It’s not as much of an issue for me since my class doesn’t have as much coursework as others,” said Green. “However, it’s annoying for the other teachers as they have to make room in their lesson plans to give out the test.”
Regardless of the complaints about taking standardized tests, there could be a light at the end of the tunnel. Students can acknowledge that standardized tests aren’t the worst possible thing to do.
“At the end of the day, we’re missing class time and we get to relax after we take it,” says Mizak. “It’s not so bad if you think about it.”
