The Cougar Chronicle June 2019
JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY
Volume XXIX Issue 4
I s Standar dized Testing Really That Standar d? Devora Solomon, Opinion Editor a test be to focus on basic skills and truly subjects that they must master in standard order to succeed in college. Many or fair if colleges and universities have some required courses, such as math, people science, writing, and history, and have extra standardized testing lets students time to know what to expect in these check classes by forcing them to study their and learn core subjects. answers The argument on the other or redo side states that there is no way to questions? really make sure that standardized Many testing is standard. Not all high would say that if a student needs school students have access to extra time on tests, this does not books or tutors to help them study. show colleges how they would Taking the SAT or ACT is also perform on real-time exams, when expensive, and although both the purpose of standardized tests provide opportunities for students is for colleges to evaluate how to waive the fees, it is difficult for well a student might do in an students to take the tests multiple academic environment. times and prepare themselves Standardized testing also adequately without spending any changes the way schools teach. money. Others, like Orli Many schools are now being Friedman, ?20, believe that not all accused of ?teaching to test?, students have time to study as meaning that educators are not much as they may need to and it teaching the students in engaging ?causes unnecessary stress during ways to spark their interests, but an already stressful time in Shirin Kaye, Centerspread Editor rather, they are teaching just so students?lives.? that students perform well on People against standardized tests. This method does not testing also argue that when produce creative or critical students are granted extra time on thinkers. Tests such as these do the SAT or ACT, it makes the not show a college how an art baseline argument void. How can Photo Credit: columbiaspectarots.com
Ruby Benjamin, ?20, said that standardized tests ?provide a baseline for colleges to compare students based on criteria that is the same no matter the students? location or school.? This sets up the primary argument in favor of standardized testing, which was put in place to level the playing field, so to speak. It gives students equal opportunity to show their capabilities and prove how and if they will succeed in college. Basically, standardized testing can act as an equalizer for students, since schools across the world grade so differently. Maya Langer, ?20, said that colleges do not necessarily ?know the reputations of different schools and how one teacher may grade or skew the data.? This is also an argument commonly used, because colleges often lie when they say they have people in the admissions offices who know each school. In reality, it is difficult for an admissions officer to know that one teacher is known for never giving A?s, or that a student may have had a bad day and did not do as well on the finals as he or she should have. Many people also say that standardized testing helps students
major is gifted in sculpture or how a math prodigy might struggle with humanities. Schools do not provide these students with the resources to further their passions if they are teaching everyone the same thing because, after all, not everyone learns or takes tests in the same way. Standardized testing is an issue that has been controversial since its implementation. Although there is no end in sight for this debate, both sides have arguments that prove their point. These persuasive arguments force schools, students, and teachers to really think about what they are learning and why.
Do You Really K now Jack? Shirin Kaye, Centerspread Editor Every ending brings a new beginning. September 11th now memorializes a tragic day in American history when the United States became the victim of a terror attack in 2001. However, on a much more positive note, September 11th is also the day that Mr. Oscar Divinsky opened Akiba Hebrew Academy in 1946. In 1946, the history of the Jewish people was changed forever. World War II had ended,
and the State of Israel was to be born within the next few years. This was a time of grief over the six million Jews lost, thankfulness by survivors that the war was over, victory for the Allied powers, battle by Zionists over the establishment of a Jewish state, and a desire for growth, both spiritual and physical, of the Jewish people. The late 1940s was a period of rebuilding, which gave way to
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the reemergence of religious pride in response to the significant loss of Jews during the war. In Northeastern United States, Mr. Divinsky responded by taking it upon himself to educate the next generation of Jewish leaders despite the depressing atmosphere. His goal was to create a school ?where Jewish adolescents would experience a dual curriculum of secular and Jewish studies, prepare for leadership roles in the Jewish Students' takes on the Union dissolution Page 4
community and the community at large, and come together to study their common heritage? in a pluralistic setting (quote from jbha.org). The first few classes in the school lived through Israel?s declaration of independence, giving them a greater connection to the history of Israel and the Jewish people. Continued on Page 17
Barrack Students React to College Admissions Scandal Page 19