Every student around the United States understand what it is like to have to go through multiple standardized tests throughout their school year. No student really enjoys taking them, but it is required so what can you do? Well, it appears that someone else is concerned about how students are taking so many standardized test. President Barack Obama is wanting the nation to cut down on standardized testing to 2% of classrooms time.

In a video released on Facebook, he said, “Learning is about so much more than just filling in the right bubble. So we’re going to work with states, school districts, and teachers and parents to make sure that we’re not obsessing about testing.”

Those are some good words that people should understand. Students already have to deal with test, quizzes, mid-terms and final exams, making them take multiple standardized tests will only make them believe that their entire future depends on how well they do on the tests. We are human beings. We are not supposed to be judged based on how well we score on a test or quiz.

Unfortunately, students are not the only ones being affected by standardized tests. Teachers will ask their students to do well on the tests because it would reflect on how well they are teaching in the classroom. Is it really ok for standardized test scores to be what tells officials if the teachers are teaching the students correctly? In a recent Gallup Poll, 63% of parents with children in public schools believe that students’ test scores should not have to do anything with teacher evaluations. According to the Council of Great City Schools, standardized tests takes 20-25 hours out of students’ entire school year; from preschool through 12th grade, students take about 112 standardized exams.

While Obama can not force the nation to limit testing, his opinion has caught the attention of parents and teachers. The Education Department says that it will continue to view standardized testing necessary and that it will not go away; although, they will agree that in some cases, testing is not always helpful with the curriculum.

“There’s just a lot of testing going on, and it’s not always terribly useful… it can sap the joy and fun out of the classroom for students and for teachers.” said Cecilia Munoz, the White House’s Domestic Policy Council director.

So true! There isn’t anything enjoyable with taking test. Hopefully, in the distant future, there will be a way for officials to cut down the amount of testing that students have to take throughout their entire school year.