Standardized Tests: The Ultimate Political Football

Standardized tests in Ontario's schools have come under fire from John Tory. This is interesting firstly because the conservative position in North America has usually been to support these kinds of tests.

Standardized tests are great for politicians. If a jurisdiction lacks them, then you can call for them to be implemented. If there are standardized tests, you can rail against the inequality of the tests. You can use them to reveal all sorts of idiotic "facts" about the school system too. Example: "Half of all schools below average in standardized testing!" (Think about that for a second.)

That said, there are a great deal of parents and teachers who would be happy to see the end of these tests. That is not, however, what Tory is proposing.