To Test of Not to Test

   It seems in Education we are always looking for the data or research to support an idea that is new or innovative.  We tell teachers that we must teach these standards to prepare the children for the next grade level, and that they will be given a test at the end of the quarter or the year.  BUT the schools say, don't teach to the test, however you will be graded and deemed a quality educator or not based on your child's test results.  Huh?  Professionals are supposed to "assess" a child's comprehension level or mathematical knowledge, but the don't teach to the test.  
  Looking back, testing was never stressed the way that it is today.  Children were assessed and data was given, but it was simply used as a tool to increase the child's skills.  Today, tests are given because we want to make sure teachers are doing there job.  Since when do professionals need babysitters?!  
  I do believe that children should be assessed on the skills that they were supposed to learn.  The best way and most sensible seems to be through unit or benchmark assessments.  Teachers are given immediate feedback and then can plan differentiated instruction for the next quarter for those children.  I do need to add that these assessments need to be fair and test the child's abilities, not how well he or she can read.  For example, if a child is reading at a first grade level in second grade, then the child should be tested on second grade standards but with a text he or she can read.  Thus aspects of the child and his or her abilities can and should be assessed.  
  In other countries, there is not a huge emphasis on testing on the younger grades.  In European countries children are taught all subjects through age 12/13.  Then a content specific test is created and given to the children.  This generally determines their course of classes for the next three years.  More than likely these classes will also prepare the child for his or her future career.  Children then graduate from high school at age 16 and move on to their vocational or college school.  Children in these countries are far more successful than the U.S. yet we refuse to adapt or even look at the model.  The U.S. with everything wants immediate results and will take the shortcut to get there.  Then, when a program does not work, the politicians get mad!  Education takes times.  It took the U.S. years to screw up the education system, it will take years to fix.