Looks might interesting.. http://www.amazon.com/Dumbing-Down-Curriculum-Compulsory-Schooling/dp/0865714487
rep that man I wonder what his answer would be to what he calls 'compulsorary schooling'? Placing kids to work at age 12?
Standardized testing has killed education. If life was about filling in circles they might be onto something. Teach kids to think, not take tests.
It does look interesting, considering our public education system is in shambles. Standardized testing does have an extremely negative impact, IMHO. Schools hardly teach critical thinking and things like arts and languages are being cut. Although ragging on compulsory schooling in general does make whoever wrote that book look like a nutso.
It's possible to have both critical thinking & testing. If a test was designed to teach kids to narrow down to the right answer by thinking, rather than "this is right and this is wrong", then the test supports critical thinking.
It would be one thing if kids were actually passing those standardized tests they're being educated on. This is just Washington's contribution. http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/summary.aspx?year=2007-08