#1 The increasing dependency on standardized testing has resulted in high stakes for all students. With more pressure on students to not only pass standardized tests but exceed them has caused worry for parents and educators all around,"...many parents and teachers have become increasingly concerned that the high stakes attached to so many tests are actually harming our students and school." The higher the stakes are for standardized testing results in more concern for the parents and more pressure for the students.
#2 Standardized testing focuses mainly on cognitive skills, mainly memorization. Theses tests are designed to test how well you can memorize information and perform on the spot. Because of the pressure of doing well on tests, more and more teachers are only teaching their students how to succeed on the test instead of other important educational skills. Valeria Strauss, author of "13 Ways High-Stakes Standardized Tests Hurt Students"points out, "Students are learning how to take high-stakes tests but cannot demonstrate mastery when tested in a different format." Students will only memorize what they are required to memorize to take a standard test. However, this does not mean they understand what they have been learning, it simply means they can memorize it for a test. This shows concern for students who excel on standardized testing in school, but cannot show these same results in other real life situations.
#3 The purpose of the education system is to teach the students how to be well rounded individuals who can not only succeed in the classroom, but also in the real world. However, with the increasing dependency on standardized tests results educators are forgetting this. We see many teachers in every school teaching directly to the test. Although students tests scores may improve significantly from this method of teaching students are losing valuable skills needed to succeed in life. Anne Ruggles Gere, author of "How Standardized Tests Shape and Limit Learning," provides the readers significant statistics that show how teaching to the tests is hurting the students in the long run. "Research shows... that GED recipients perform about as well as high school graduates on standardized tests but have much worse life outcomes because they often lack important qualities such as curiosity, conscientiousness, perseverance and sociability."
You have a great start to your essay. One thing I would add is to not only restate your quotes but to add your opinions and how it fits into your argument. But, otherwise, you've clearly introduced each quote and it flows well.
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