History of Assessment

Assessment in America has often mirrored the time period in which it has been applied. Whether assessment is used to place a specific number on an individual’s ability, or to show statewide results, it is often debated as to how these results are measured. Assessment has come a long way in that it is now looked upon as an asset to students, rather than just a means for tracking. There is much controversy still arises when discussing validity and biases. Abuses in the testing process prove that there has been, and still is, room for improvement. Issues such as language, class, race, gender, and culture also affect students ’ performance on tests. Our job, as educators, is to right the flaws in the assessment process and avoid biases in the classroom. The idea that students are the center of assessment has not always been the focus in this country. Assessment came about through scientific positivism, which is the idea that society should be shaped and improved through science. The idea that we should test in order to weed out the weak became the goal of assessment. The first forms of assessment were those used by colleges to determine who would be accepted. These tests were measured through essays and personal interviews. Soon after, in the early 1900s