THE HEAT IS ON: CAN STANDARDIZED TESTING SURVIVE EXTREME TEMPERATURES
As temperatures continue to rise across the United States, students are facing a new challenge in their academic pursuits: extreme heat. That's right folks, it's not just the standardized tests that are causing stress and anxiety, now we have to worry about the weather too!
According to a recent report from The Hill, hotter temperatures during the school year have been shown to reduce the rate of learning and negatively affect test scores. And who is bearing the brunt of this heat? Children in rural or low-income areas, where school districts may not have adequate air conditioning.
But let's be real, who actually enjoys taking tests in a stuffy, overheated classroom? It's like trying to concentrate while sitting in a sauna. And don't even get me started on the sweat stains that inevitably form on your test paper. Talk about ruining your score!
The problem is only made worse by the learning gap brought on by COVID-19 and remote learning. It's hard enough to stay focused during a virtual class, but add in some extreme heat and you've got a recipe for disaster.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "Just turn on the air conditioning!" But unfortunately, school districts in poorer and rural regions are less likely to have adequate infrastructure and air conditioning. This contributes substantially to the racial gap in test scores or educational achievements.
And let's not forget about the northern school districts that lack good air conditioning altogether. Some students may not even be able to attend class as temperatures increase, which is a pretty lame excuse for skipping out on a pop quiz if you ask me.
So what's the solution to this "very hard problem"? Well, according to experts, policymakers need to tackle both mitigating climate change and updating school infrastructure and air conditioning. But let's be real, that's easier said than done.
In the meantime, I propose we take matters into our own hands. Bring a personal fan to your next test, or better yet, petition your school district for a snow day equivalent for extreme heat. I mean, if they can cancel school for a little bit of snow, why not for a heat wave?
In conclusion, extreme heat is just another obstacle that students have to overcome in their academic journey. But with a little bit of humor and creativity, we can make the best of a sweaty situation. So crank up the AC (if you're lucky enough to have it) and keep cool, my fellow test-takers.
Students’ test scores, already beleaguered, face new threats from extreme heat | The Hill https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4158875-students-test-scores-already-beleaguered-face-new-threats-from-extreme-heat/