Hannah Hoffmann

Students can expect to see plenty of bubbles to fill in if Amendment 3 is passed.

When students think about what is to come in their education, a school system based entirely around tests doesn’t normally come to mind.

However, with the vote date for Amendment 3 nearing, this may become a reality in public Missouri schools. Nov. 4 stands the date for the controversial amendment’s ballot.

The addition of the amendment is aimed at teachers rather than students; if the amendment is passed, teachers may find themselves having to change their teaching styles in order to keep their pay or even their jobs.

“[Amendment 3 will] require teachers to be dismissed, retained, demoted, promoted and paid primarily using quantifiable student performance data,” the official ballot title read.

This “quantifiable student performance data” primarily refers to test scores. With the addition of Amendment 3, students would take frequent tests to evaluate the job performance of their teachers, who would have no way to stop the Amendment from changing their classrooms.

“[Amendment 3 will] prohibit teachers from organizing or collectively bargaining regarding the design and implementation of the teacher evaluation system,” the ballot title read.

Amendment 3 also promises some benefits for those teachers whose students do well on the tests: promotions and raises. However, teachers say that the ballot still doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

“We have people making policy here that have never set foot in a classroom.  That is dangerous,” Jason Townsend, vice president of the National Education Association and West High math teacher said.

It is not an uncommon fear among teachers that the amendment will cause them to have to change their teaching styles entirely.

“I do feel though that many teachers will lose valuable class time and will be pre-occupied with teaching to the test,” Townsend said.  “The focus will shift to test scores instead of trying to make sure students are actually learning.”

Even with the amendment aiming to evaluate teachers, students are caught in the crossfire. In addition to the stress they gain from current school system, added tests might make education overwhelming.

“I never really learn things because I’m too busy cramming,” freshman Colleen Smith said on the amount of tests she already has.

In addition to tests in classes such as math, science and history, extra standardized tests would also be implemented in classes like gym, art and choir.

“Students will feel more pressure and will be forced to make these tests a priority.  This will not encourage them to take chances and learn through experience,” Townsend said. “It will create anxiety for students and parents as well and will cause some students to struggle.”

And the overall goal of the amendment, to figure out which teachers are “good” and which are “bad” through tests, doesn’t seem like an effective method to students.

“Even if it’s just that the teacher [is bad], have more people come in to do teacher evaluations,” freshman Cheryl Ma said.

Time also stands as a problem for high schoolers that go to Amendment 3 impacted public schools.

“I also am concerned that will other intrusions on class time like field trips, ACT, college visits, common ground, etc. we are already stretched to the max on having enough time to cover content,” Townsend said. “More testing would only further this problem.”

But what about the district? A forced switch to a brand-new system is something expensive enough that additional funds from taxpayers would be required to cover the costs.

“The implementation of this amendment will cost every school money they do not have,” Townsend said. “This may be the most damaging proposal to public education that has come along in my career.”