Too Much Anxiety in Test Prep, Or Just Enough?

How much of the anxiety and overall vitriol aimed at state testing in schools can be blamed not on the test themselves, but the frenzy and hype leading up to them?

Students today are arguably more aware than ever about their school’s performance, how well they need to do on state tests, and how they compare to other schools in their area. School leaders host pep rallies and assemblies, after endless practice testing, to get students motivated for the test that means so much.

But is it possible that after all this pep and practice that students are tired and exhausted? Or that all of the hyper-attention and reminders of upcoming Test Day that students are over-anxious and can’t concentrate?

That’s what this Orlando newspaper columnist argued this week: Assessments are necessary for accountability, Beth Kassab writes, but the hype before the big tests is “counter-productive and highly inflammatory.”

We asked educators and parents their thoughts, and here are some of their responses via Twitter:

But others felt that the test prep is part of the learning process.

Other thoughts?