Favoring the rich and
placing extreme hardships on the poor is what the SAT also known as the
Scholastic Assessment test is set out to do. Making it exceedingly difficult
for one to obtain what is considered a high score that captures the audience of
several prestige’s colleges; several individuals including myself along with
Charles Murray agree that the SAT should be abolished. While some may disagree
and feel as if the SAT serves a significant purpose in today’s decision making
in regards to college enrollment, others including myself feel that the SAT is
failing to uplift its duties and is bias, favoring those citizens in the upper
class bracket. As Murray once states, the test is a “wealth test “placing those
students who live in poor areas at a disadvantage. For schools to base who they
are willing to accept off of these particular scores is ludicrous because in my
opinion you cannot determine ones’ ability to learn or obtain information off
an exam. I know several students including myself who are not great test takers
therefore we have the tendency to not perform well however that does not mean
we are not as intelligent as the C student who scores high but fails to complete
their homework. Just because one’s scores may be lower than another does not
mean that they should be deprived the option of going to an outstanding
college. Folding under pressure is a trait that a lot of students of all ages
portray therefore, in my opinion, all circumstances and influences should be
considered when making these decisions. For instance, you cannot compare the
course work of a Henry County High School to that of a Clayton County High
School because of the simple fact that their curriculum is different. Knowing
this, a student from Clayton County is subject to not having the knowledge to
answer the questions accurate because he or she was not taught on the level of
those from Henry County. Abolishing the SAT would not only help those students
who aren’t good test takers achieve their goals of obtaining a degree from a
great school but it will also show that sometimes those who score high still do
not have the ability to obtain information or handle the course load needed to
maintain throughout their time in college. Eliminating this test all together
will destroy the barrier between the African American and Caucasian ratio that
is seen within the college system. Due to most African American families living
in middle class communities, a lot of these particular issues are very
familiar. Destroying this test is important and will give EVERY student
regardless of race and money, the opportunity to receive the same education.
Lady Zandra
Let me be clear: favoring the rich and placing
extreme hardships on the poor are not the purpose of the Scholastic Aptitude
Test, better known as the SAT. As Charles Murray states in his essay entitled
“Abolish the SAT”, the original purpose of the SAT was to measure aptitude,
which is defined by the dictionary as is “inherent ability” as opposed to
academic achievement. While I don’t contend that any academic knowledge may be
classified as “inherent”. The ability to learn may be innate, but not the
knowledge possessed, but I digress.
I also do not believe that the SAT should be
abolished. If not for tradition alone, the SAT holds great significance when it
comes to post-secondary education. It seems to me that the SAT serves the same
purpose for entering college as the Georgia High School Graduation Test does
for leaving high school. It needs to be evident that the student not only found
some way of passing tests or writing assignments but individually possesses
certain required knowledge and the ability to gain and retain new knowledge,
including comprehension and application.
The SAT may very well provide disadvantage for
poorer students for various reasons; however, it is not the root of those
disadvantages. Poorer schools have fewer teachers. Fewer teachers mean larger
class sizes. Larger class sizes mean a lack of opportunity for individual
attention. Poorer schools definitely mean less money for educational supplies,
including updated books, SAT prep courses, etc. Students born into any form of
poverty, attending poorer schools, are already at a disadvantage in life
altogether, especially in comparison with students’ whose parents can provide
private schools, private tutors, SAT prep courses from commercial giants such
as Kaplan and The Princeton Review.
The SAT is not the problem. Lack of funds for public
schools is the problem. Overworking and underpaying public school teachers is
the problem. The SAT provides a forum for students of various backgrounds to
play on a constant, impartial and level playing field. It is the same test for
all students. Wealthy students are given an easier version of the test. They
simply have access to more resources to prepare. The SAT even provides a waiver
of the fee for less fortunate students. The SAT is not the problem. It’s simply
the standard.
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