Beating the butterflies.

• Author: Sidrane, Michelle
• Position: AMERICAN EDUCATION

A FRIEND OF MINE recently had to take a driving test upon her move to another state. Although she had been driving for more than 10 years, when she arrived at the testing center, she noticed that her heart was pounding and her hands were sweaty. She was suffering from a textbook case of test anxiety. While some anxiety actually is good for the test-taker, too much can be detrimental to performance. Alas, my friend failed the test.

If the prospect of taking a driving test is enough to make you bite your nails, imagine the task facing Laila, a fourth-grade student in New York City. Having taken two statewide standardized tests last year, she now faces exams in English, Math, and Science--and next year has to sit for a Social Studies exam as well. Only three years ago, Laila would have had to take only two tests in fourth and eighth grades. Today, English and Math exams are administered to students in grades three through eight and, additionally, a Social Studies test is administered in fifth and eighth grades. Where the older tests used to have multiple choice questions only, each of today's tests requires students to write essays.

Is it any wonder that test anxiety is on the rise? According to a study conducted by the Institute of HeartMath, 61% of students report being affected by test anxiety. Twenty-six percent say they are experiencing high levels often or most of the time. The same study suggests that students with high levels score an average of 15 points lower on standardized English and Math exams than those with low anxiety. With so much emphasis being placed on standardized tests, the ultimate goal of student achievement may be at risk.

Signed into law by Pres. George W. Bush in 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act reauthorized 1965's Elementary and Second Education Act. NCLB mandates massive state administered standardized testing. The reality is that students are bombarded with the importance and significance of standardized tests starting on the first day of school in September. Test prep takes over classroom lessons and little time is left for read alouds, art projects, field trips, and other enrichment activities. Students are threatened with the prospect of summer school, repeating a year, or the cancellation of a summer holiday if they do not pass the tests. The stress is great and manifests itself physically. Stomachaches and headaches are not infrequent occurrences. In school, numerous trips to the bathroom, dropped pencils...