Question

Do teachers face a conflict of interest when “certifying” their students? What steps can schools and potential employers and graduate schools take to eliminate the problems created by these conflicts?

Answer 1

Teaching to the test is a significant issue in school. Standardized tests often certify the teaching adequacy of educators and the intelligence of students. Teachers often want to be perceived as adequate educator. Teaching to the test is an issue because the tests often do not cover every subject. They are focused on specific subjects and often test for memorization, not comprehension. Therefore, teachers may neglect other subjects that aren’t tested and my not teach in a way that is beneficial to the overall enhancement of the student.

A way this issue can be avoided is by steering away from testing. By grading more on comprehension conveyed through other mediums such as papers or presentations, the true development of students can be better assessed. Potential employers or graduate schools can also ask for writing samples or ask the student to complete a more subjective test (such as a GMAT) which will allow them to better assess the true performance of a student.