Culture Quote by Carol Ann Tomlinson
![“I think [testing] has had a profoundly problematic impact on student learning. It must seem to students that their worth as individuals is equivalent to their test score. The stress the high stakes culture has on teachers is also highly negative and must surely impact students in a negative way…” quote by Carol Ann Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/94d/carol-ann-tomlinson-15427_culture_i-think-testing-has-had-a-profoundly-pro_392424.jpg)
“I think [testing] has had a profoundly problematic impact on student learning. It must seem to students that their worth as individuals is equivalent to their test score. The stress the high stakes culture has on teachers is also highly negative and must surely impact students in a negative way. It also de-professionalizes teachers because it encourages them to be script readers, followers of rigid schedules, and to disregard the needs of the people they teach in favor of the scripts and schedules.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Rethinking Assessment in Education, Carol Ann Tomlinson, 2015
High‑stakes testing reduces learning to scores, pressures teachers into rigid scripts, and undermines professional judgment, harming both students and educators.
In simple terms: Testing makes learning about scores, not growth, and limits teacher freedom.
Key Takeaway
Shift focus from test scores to holistic learning.
Themes
assessment
education
teacher autonomy
student well‑being
policy
Mood
concerned
optimistic
critical
Type
educational
policy
reflective
When to use this quote
- classroom instruction
- curriculum design
- teacher training
- student feedback
Key Concepts
formative assessment
professional identity
learning motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can assessments support deeper learning?
- What alternatives preserve teacher expertise?
A Different Perspective
Testing can still provide useful data if used responsibly.
![“[The] overuse and misuse of standardized tests is only the start of the problems with NCLB. NCLB uses these test scores to impose sanctions that have no record of success as school improvement strategies, and in fact are not really educational strategies at all. They're political strategies…” quote by Stan Karp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/859/stan-karp-179672_public-education_the-overuse-and-misuse-of-standardized-t_3178763.jpg)
![“[Students] often have a "We can figure this out - don't just tell us" attitude. In that way, they can be less patient with "traditional" approaches to teaching.” quote by Carol Ann Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ea/carol-ann-tomlinson-15427_approach_students-often-have-a-we-can-figure-this_617892.jpg)
