Testing, Testiness, and a Test of Will

By Paul Houston

Something rather remarkable happened in Washington during the dying days of summer: National testing moved from the realm of the esoteric into the Oval Office, the U.S. House speaker's oratory, and the news-talk shows.

It is a sign of our national prosperity that an issue as narrow as a voluntary national exam, to be given to a couple of grades of children, could command that kind of attention. While some feel the attention is good for education, others wish that politicians would focus on something more consequential.

It is important to separate politics from reality. National tests are popular with the public. A majority of Americans, when polled, think national tests are a dandy idea. President Clinton did not become re-elected by ignoring the polls....