Question

Read the excerpt from "What’s Possible for Our Children” by Barack Obama.

As president, I will work with our nation’s governors and educators to create and use assessments [tests] that can improve achievement all across America by including the kinds of research, scientific investigation and problem-solving that our children will need to compete in a 21st century knowledge economy. The tests our children take should support learning not just accounting.

Read the excerpt from "Remarks on No Child Left Behind Bill” by George W. Bush.

The first way to solve a problem is to diagnose it. And so, what this bill says, it says every child can learn. And we want to know early, before it's too late, whether or not a child has a problem in learning. I understand taking tests aren’t fun. Too bad. We need to know in America. We need to know whether or not children have got the basic education.

How do the speakers’ perspectives on testing differ?

Obama believes that tests do not help students learn, while Bush believes that they do.
Obama believes that teachers should create the tests they use to monitor student success, while Bush believes that the government should design them.
Obama believes that tests should be given to improve learning, while Bush believes that tests should be given to make sure schools are succeeding.
Obama believes that tests can be fun and helpful, while Bush believes that tests are boring.

Answer 1

Barack Obama believed tests should foster learning and reflect necessary 21st-century skills, while George W. Bush emphasized their use for accountability and early diagnosis of educational issues.

Step-by-step explanation:

Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush both had distinct perspectives on the role of standardized testing in American schools. Obama's view, as reflected in his speech, is that tests should enhance learning and be aligned with 21st century skills such as research and problem-solving. In contrast, Bush's emphasis in the No Child Left Behind Act was on using testing as a diagnostic tool to identify educational deficiencies early on and to ensure all schools succeed by meeting federal standards. This policy has been criticized for leading to 'teaching to the test,' where education is overly focused on test preparation at the expense of broader learning goals. Obama sought to shift from this by advocating for tests that support actual learning, not just accountability.