STAAR season has kicked off and students have questioned why the tests exist.

”What happened was, the businesses in Texas went to the legislatures and said they needed students coming out of school that are better prepared,” Principal Dee Palmore said.“Technology started to come in and everybody wanted to increase what is going on in our school so they started testing kids to go on to graduation. We want to keep up with education, so teachers keep kids accountable by these tests.”

Students have been questioning the purpose of a five hour test.

“The goal was to make students more prepared,” Palmore said.  “They think testing is the way to manage what goes on in our schools.”

However, Palmore understands the students’ questions.

“I think we need to be held accountable, but I’m not so sure we’re doing it the correct way,” Palmore said. “For example,the English test is five hours long. Doctors and Lawyers don’t take tests that are five hours long. They may take a two hour test, take a break, then take a different two hour test.”

Math teacher Cara Farnsworth prepares students who will be taking the test.

“I think standardized testing can be good to a point,” Farmsworth said. “I think right now we’re in a swing where it’s adding a lot of unnecessary stress to the kids.”

Freshman Rene Lerma hopes the test will change in the future.

“I don’t like it, it’s too long,” Lerma said. “It makes it harder to think because of the length. It adds stress to school because it is a big test and if you fail you have to retake it. They should cut down the hours of the test.”