The education system in the United StatesDiane Ravitch, a senior researcher at New York University, has written several books and hundreds of articles on the education system in the United States United. In one of her articles published by Education Week, she states that "most fourth graders who live in American cities cannot read and understand a simple children's book, and most eighth graders cannot cannot use arithmetic to solve a practical problem. "This is why schools and their students are tested on what they have learned. Those who support standardized testing say it is a useful way to evaluate a school and its students by compared to other schools around the world. The opposition claims that too much time is spent on testing. Some argue that standardized tests are not an accurate way to judge a school and its ability to teach students. Barnes of the New York Times notes that education experts complain that "measuring second graders with standardized tests was unreliable." Educators simply say there are "too many tests and one." age too young." In fact, second graders in New York take twelve to thirteen tests throughout the school year. Some teachers and parents feel that all that testing time could have been put to better use. t's not a waste of time: it serves a purpose Dr. Cookson, a professor at Teachers College at Columbia University, addresses this question in a New York Times article entitled "Q & A: Stress Test." He explains that "What's perhaps not great about all this is that you can't channel an education through a certain number." But he also points out that the tests provide information about a participant's academic climate...... middle of article ......nts.Bibliography: Works CitedBarnes, Julian E. "The Reading Test for 2nd Grade Is Canceled After Protests. New York Times on the Web http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/regional/ March 13, 1999. April 29, 1999Nakamura, David. state face unique challenges." Washington Post. http://search.washingtonpost.com/up-srv/Wplate/1999-04/25/2741-0425599-idx.html April 25, 1999. April 29, 1999 "Questions and answers: Stress Test.” New York Times on the Web. April 27, 1999 Ravitch, “Our School Problem and Its Solution.” Winter 1999 Issue. May 6, 1999Steinberg, Jacques. “Testing Whether City Kids Succeed as Readers.” http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/. April 18, 1999. April 29. 1999