What standardized tests don't measure | Nikki Adeli | TEDxPhiladelphia

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Alarmingly, 44% of American students in grades 6-12 do not feel a sense of self-worth at school. Philadelphia high school junior Nikki Adeli knows firsthand the challenges that young people face navigating standardized tests. Through the story of her own real-world educational experiences beginning in Mississippi by way of Iran, Nikki reminds us all that the value and purpose of schools is to grow a citizen not produce a good test-taker.
High school student and public education advocate Nikki Adeli is an active citizen. As a Youth Commissioner to Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Nikki represents the city’s youth in public hearing and gives testimony that reflects the youth perspective. She works with the City, non-profits, community organizations and private entities to develop strategies to improve educational opportunities for Philadelphia’s youth.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@thekeeks58]

"I'm not saying that tests are bad,I'm saying, the concept of what tests have become.." EXACTLY the problem!

[@masoncantrell787]

👏👏👏

[@naritruwireve1381]

In my French classes, the teacher gives the class a list of around 120 French words each term that you need to memorise for 2 quizzes (60 for the first quiz then the other 60 for the 2nd)You need to memorise how to spell it in French, what it is in English, if it's masculine or feminine..etc and I've never even heard the teacher talk about some of the words on the list! She's just like, "Here's a huge list of words that I've never explained or used but I expect you to know it for the quiz that has only 8 words it outta the 120(I'm not even kidding)" You can't tell me that those types of quizzes aren't based on how well you can memorise things, but on what you learn.

[@guillegutierrez3995]

Juicy Pear my french teacher actually does take the time to converse with us so when I hear about teachers who don't teach anything it shocks me.

[@naritruwireve1381]

Sad that some teachers just do it for the money

[@rebeccasiems6294]

What money?

[@scarletwilson2562]

Finally more people that understand. We study for tests like the SAT for years and then we forget this "knowledge" within the next month. These test don't teach us about real life and how to solve societies problems. You want a better generation, change our school system change the way we learn. Stop making schools like jail, engage us with the real world instead of reciting from a 350 paged textbook about nothing! Teach us to think and I mean really think!

[@marinadoshkevich4863]

You are not ready to engage the real world. True, you may forced what you learned for the SAT. But it measures how well you are able to study for a tests, which is very similar to how you research for a project in the real world. You often don't remember what you found after the project is done. That doesn't mean the endeavor was useless.

[@gracemaria7828]

Marina Doshkevich she didn't say tests were bad and useless she said she didn't like the concept of them and the idea of them defining children for example if we didn't do well in a big test we would be seen as unintelligent. That is basically what she was saying for the whole thing and I commend her for that as there will always be people saying the negative things about this speech but she still said it in such a positive way in that she wanted to change the education system and make it better for kids all around the world

[@naritruwireve1381]

Ikr...I feel like tests and quizzes are based off of how much can you memorise for how long, then forgetting about it right after or at least for me:/

[@knightofthewindthehedgehog1650]

Marina Doshkevich Im sorry but your statement is invalid and valid. Studyying for a test does not help u research for a project. I can start researching for a project right now but not because of a test but because of knowledge and materials. A test simply challenges your memory, not intelligience. Yes that test u will always remember but you will soon realize how irrelevent it was.

[@ChristyTavarez]

English class makes me think. Math class helps me problem solve. Economics and Civics are teaching me about the real world

[@laurenmarkham7307]

Education should be the #1 thing being funded. Education decides the future of the country; it should not be placed on the back burner

[@dork-in3025]

+Lauren Hutton Exactly! Its the investment of a lifetime :D

[@TheSlobra]

+Lauren Hutton ...while adequately funding education is important and certain changes in our education model are needed, we can't forget that the home is the foundation. No amount of money or legislation can create better people. If you listen, this girl's parents moved halfway around the world...and then halfway across the country in support of their children and were integral to their kids' drive for learning. From my children being in school, I was surprised to learn that many parents do not help their children with their homework. In urban areas, this is even more common. Children need a stable home with adults who will champion them so they have confidence which will have the courage to go out and change the world. Some of the brightest minds have come from the most humble of places. Money isn't the common denominator...confidence, character and courage is.

[@ruofanyu6699]

+joe geeting money and legislation can create better people or families insofar as it is used to fight poverty and reduce crime. and don't forget that eventually the children who got a better education due to legislation will grow up and start their own families. how else would you provide children with better parents? by simply telling the parents they need to better or by improving society as a whole?

[@marinadoshkevich4863]

Right now, majority of parents are dissatisfied. There is too much propaganda, and too little actual learning, But even if it was, we live in a country that values the individual over the community. You still can not force a person to give up their hard earned cash to educate someone else's kid. It is still unfair.

[@ruofanyu6699]

What about the people who game the system and do very little work while exploiting the hard work of others to become the richest? We try to force them to give back to the system that propped them up, which should seem fair, but they have their own tricks to evade taxes and pay off the government not to look too closely. Actual hardworking people don't get higher than middle class, and I agree we shouldn't overtax them.

[@AtheniCuber]

I just realized i want to watch ALL the TEDx talks.

[@brisaserrano2930]

Sameeee

[@patriciaebrahim3471]

Athenic Cuber You got this! You can do it!

[@mscottcarpenter]

Athenic Cuber Going to the TedEx talks feels even better. You feel like they're talking to you, you can meet their gaze.

[@alexg.1707]

Athenic Cuber i know!

[@dragonsmore67]

Nathan Deyak 666 likes

[@MrMinorChord]

"Invest in today, and the future will take care of itself." Amazing!

[@miracle9028]

This brought me to tears. I was a D student. I took what you said, "a little belief and a little time," and started going against the standard lessons being taught. I voiced my opinions and went from being that girl with the hoodie who sits in the back of class, to class president, and in running for valedictorian in one month. I plan to teach my own students one day. Starting tomorrow.

[@Em-ic3vm]

Lemony Len that's so cool! congratulations!

[@AlienDark12]

School year isn't over, so we'd only know in a few months.

[@rusty8021]

Lemony Len How'd it go?

[@rendered33]

Lemony Len 👏Congrats

[@meghanlazz2765]

Congrats! But one question, you have to run for Valedictorian? In my school whoever has the best grades gets it. I don't think they have to run for it

[@ejrobison99]

listening to this while attempting to study my act textbook without completely breaking down. I hate tests.

[@valerieshakhov9779]

They tell you to think outside the box, but when you do, you're wrong. My daughter didn't get into advanced math because, even though the answer was correct, the way she got that answer was not how they wanted her to.

[@Mikeological]

valerie shakhov you should have a word with the people who made that decision, because that is just flat out stupid. The best type of problem solver is the one who can imagine different ways of getting to the goal, such as your daughter. People always say that hard work beats cutting corners, yet you have to remember that one day, someone decided to cut corners by using a computer to do mathematics, and ever since then, we've been carrying around calculators and finding ways to cut even more corners.

[@aniyahlawrence8356]

valerie shakhov will it work for all problems is the question. It might work for that one question, but not others. But I'm sad that that had happen

[@reeree8981]

valerie shakhov This pisses me off so much my teachers refuse to put me in higher math because I am not solving it to their liking. I am getting it correct but, going about the problem a different way. Why does it matter how I do it. It is about getting it done correct!

[@Riley-lt1fl]

I’m in grade 8 and have the same problem. We also have to find the answer in let’s say a fraction problem and then we have to model it with pizzas...

[@copiasrats]

Brizled same! In grade 3 (I was homeschooled for half of that year before transferring to public school), my math book used pizzas and box diagrams to model the problem. I found fractions super easy so my mom didn’t make me do the pizza and diagram problems. Then, when I transferred to public school, I did the problems how they made sense to me, with just the fractions. My teacher got mad at me for “not doing the problem right” even though I was the first in the class to get the problem right.

[@lunastar7757]

The one thing that bothers me about life skills in school is, it doesn't matter what you're good at unless you pay to take a class to learn what you already know. I can play violin, piano, do all kinds of art; sculpting, painting, digital. I can do it but it doesn't matter that I can do them, what matters most is a number; a letter, on a machine telling me if I can do it. I can't delineate it for everyone to understand, sorry.

[@laviniamaior3638]

I am a teenager living in Australia, currently in my final year of high school, and for the past 13 years of my life i have been working, learning, doing arduous amounts of homework and studying to be able to complete my final exams that will essentially dictate the rest of my life. For 13 years i have been working for a number, for an atar that will get me into university. My life is based on a number, I have no potential until i get my number. Now THAT is truly the sad thing about the education in Australia.

[@nmarbletoe8210]

+lavinia maior good luck :P maybe your generation can change that system!

[@ZeldagigafanMatthew]

+lavinia maior That's much the case here in the States as well in regards to college entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT. But there's a bigger menace out there, and it's tests that are state-mandated, and whether or not you move on to the next grade level is dictated by these tests. We know when they are coming, thankfully, but judging a student by the score on one test is like judging a pilot based on just 4 minutes of the flight at cruising altitude. Granted, these tests are just as much an assessment of the teacher, as they are for the students. It is impossible to judge one's performance based on how they did on just one test.

[@littlepinkmonster99]

The irony is whenever we failed in a test teachers were always like "a test does not define your grades, it's also the participation that matters". Hypocrisy. Btw in Greece we have the same system as yours. Next year is my last year too, i wish you good luck!

[@AtheniCuber]

+lavinia maior Yes. In America, I am told how smart I am because I test well, but am a scatterbrained procrastinator, and many of my friends are much smarter than me, such as one that plays cello and piano, can do calculus, read and keep track of characters in the dozens, and a beast at yoyo, but i am dissatisfied with it.

[@lemonjuice8220]

+Zeldagigafan Great analogy about the pilot test. I would to add that the questions you get are random. Someone could be ready for a certain question but not on a different question. The overreliance on test grades for decision making is kinda absurd and dare I say somewhat lazy.

[@leshawnatogninalli2003]

Standerized tests just show how well you can memorize information in a short amount of time It doesn't show your full potential

[@youtuber10003]

LeShawna Togninalli LeShawna Togninalli No, they test much more than that. Standardized tests (SAT/ACT) are open book tests. They measure ability to synthesize and understand information within a given time period, basic English mechanics and styling, and basic math (up to trigonometry). It's not rote memorization, believe it or not, but application of basic skills and data synthesis in a given amount of time. Standardized tests are ragged on so much, without much support. I think the US has a good balance between testing and extracurriculars, although I think it leans more to EC's.

[@marinadoshkevich4863]

Incorrect. They can measure a person's ability in spacial reasoning, reading comprehension, or any number of things. Perhaps the time to start thinking critically is right now, rather then simply believing what this video is telling you.

[@caramelspice7244]

LeShawna Togninalli Standardized tests make companies like Pierson extremely rich. If kids have to retake tests in order to graduate (2, 3 times), wouldn't you purposefully make it confusing. Parents should see the tests. I mean professional careers that require at least a 4 year degree. They would struggle w them themselves. And we blame the teachers when they would like to teach kids what they need to know, but are FORCED to "prepare" kids for a bunch of meaninglessness tests, created by people that couldn't give one damn about education.

[@the0therethan]

Yellowman184 Bruh, there are super creative people that don't do well in things like that. I even knew this amazingly passionate and creative kid once, but was unable to graduate because he's "not smart enough" to pass a test that nobody will remember anything on unless they have kids of their own that do the same thing.

[@sunnybunny60]

Ethan Nelsen yeah well I do better an test than my actual work and no, before you state or ask, I don't cheat. You don't have to have good grades to be intelligent. Some people just don't do well under pressure while others thrive under it. It all really depends on the person.

[@Orcaman2]

I feel like the pressures on kids to be scientists and engineers and the cuts on music and english is creating a generation of sociopaths.

[@jul98765]

How did you reach that conclusion? Why are scientists and engineers more likely to be sociopaths than any other people?

[@matthewpool4390]

+Julia Lin Reread Orcaman's comment. It's because of the pressure to become a certain thing regardless if they would prefer to be something else. Some kids go along with it because they get to do art and music while focusing on Math or Science but with the cuts on art and music kids don't have any interaction with those subjects.

[@chlomium7893]

Although I disagree with your assertion that the reinforcement of such is creating a generation of sociopaths, I do severely believe that America's urge for every kid to become a scientist or an engineer is being spoon-fed to the nation's youth, producing an effect that is the total opposite of what they're all expecting, simply put, instead of thinking math and science are cool like all the bs commercials advertising this concept suggests, they become apathetic, and underestimate themselves, I'd continue but I might as well just sign up to give a TED Talk on this concept by itself. XD

[@marymadden1641]

Science and Engineering are the two pillars of Global Corporatism and the Military, I really mean Mortuary- Industrial -Thermonuclear Complex.

[@idontcaretbh2999]

Yeah, and it bothers me a lot to see so many people around me being pushed into these kinds of degrees/fields just for the prestige and money rather than a genuine interest or concern for what they're going into. Don't get me wrong, I think most people do care about bettering the world, I think there's just something fundamentally wrong with this idea that if you're not a doctor/scientist/engineer, then you are less capable. Scientists, engineers and doctors (etc.) should all be genuinely passionate about the progress they are capable of contributing to, and approach problems with curiosity and ingenuity as well as humility. Sadly, it seems that so many are pushed into this without thinking this through, when they would enjoy other disciplines much more and care much more about the future of that career. It also makes it harder for the people who do want to go into these fields for the right reasons, and if they are successful they also have to deal with people around them getting burnt out and frustrated because of people who feel apathetic about their careers/regret not pursuing something else but think they shouldn't bother changing things now.

[@evelynellsworth6211]

I'm rather disappointed that we couldn't see her visual aids. Oh well. I loved the talk; it was very inspiring :)

[@xhxneybeex]

Diana Nielson iirelavent but ANGELICA

[@candycanestripes1305]

smolt Aaaaaaand Peggy!

[@liv9772]

Put me in a room with a scantron and pencil and I'll be fine, but through me out in the real world and that's where I'll fail.

[@choose_happyxo]

Liv ok that is perfect

[@elenagibbons4719]

This is what the school system is giving to us...

[@K.Adler1120]

I'm the complete opposite, I will do just fine out in the real world, but only because I might fail a grade because I don't really do homework or study. But instead, I'm learning to be a landscaper. I don't need to be learning trigonometric ratios and William Shakespeare to do that.

[@merakiem]

Liv put me in the “real world” I will fail Put me in a classroom and.. Well no difference here

[@theuglybeing4673]

Awesome

[@tareqalassri9856]

Im in love. She is gorgeous and with an amazing personality. Wish her the best success.

[@Chuk392]

Tareq Alassri that makes thousands of us...

[@strzynskii3636]

I hate standardized testing. It's so stupid. What if a kid knew 5 different languages, but no. He is stupid because she/he can't do math or Language Arts. Also, the people that come up with ways to test the kids are even better. "Let's sit a kid in front of a bright computer for 7 hours straight, that will measure there smarts. Also, all the information I have ever learned from school I have forgotten. We don't teach kids anything important. Also, the homework is pointless. I wake up at 6:00 every morning and stay at school until 4:00 and yet they still fell the need to give me homework. And people wonder why the stress and sleep deprived children rates have gotten higher.

[@amberb.6395]

Milky Whiskers I agree very much with you. In 6th grade I had so much homework and presentations that I’d bring at least 3 or more subjects home every night! What makes it worse is that we had 3-5 pound books in each of our main classes and I walked home at the time. I’ve had terrible back problems since. That was the grade with the most homework I’ve ever had. Once I had 4 presentations in 1 day too

[@geewiz8253]

Amber B. Jesus! 😯

[@v1-v0]

@@madelineconrad2800 Yeah. I hate how we might be ten times better at math then the rest of the class, but we still have to learn the same things as everyone else. Everyone else is learning, but we already know all this stuff, and by the end of the year we are at the same level as everyone else.

[@bragastraat2288]

You should go with homeschooling. You can choose what you want to learn

[@elibaerg7436]

It's those damn video game (This is a joke btw pls don't hate)

[@muzhelozhstvo007]

This is FABULOUS!!! what a GREAT girl,not to mention brave!!and INTELLIGENT!!

[@kellylakeman3859]

I agree that testing is not always right. I have a child with Autism who struggles with testing so of course he ranks lower than his peers in some areas however in maths and science he is well above but because he doesn't 'test well' it doesn't show. Everything these days relies on what you are on paper and not as a person.

[@echoproductions5682]

Kelly Lakeman exactly I personally have ADHD and after the the fifth grade the school system or my school did absolutely nothing help me with focusing or stuff like that the only thing that they did was tell me to try harder even though I was already trying as hard as I could and just send me to the office so many times I lost count just so they can tell me I was failing which towards the end of 6th grade started to give me depression and anxiety So I could not agree with you more and also a wish the best of luck to you and your child

[@alfredhitchcock45]

For autistic kids, there should be Special Education.

[@jonathanwilson5355]

mel saint not just special ed, GOOD special ed.

[@DivineHellas]

@@alfredhitchcock45 “Special education” here and “special education” there. The current official education system we live by is very very special if anything, and it’s not really that people who cannot operate within this sick system would have diagnoses. School is the one with tons of diagnoses and only those who have a diagnose can operate in it “normally”.

[@darkflamemaster2445]

Omg I need to be writing my Honors essay it's due in two hours and I'm sitting here binging TEDx Talks WHY ARE THEY SO ADDICTING?!

[@williamsta30]

@dark flame master omg i am doing the same thing and actually have a research paper due in less than 24 hrs.

[@SandraStar66]

This is amazing. Honestly, this is exactly what I feel is missing in my own high school education and why I'm not excelling. Thank you for speaking up. :)

[@gofish9285]

Standardized testing is not a measure of intelligence, but of obedience.

[@Geneiveve]

Powerful statement. You need to elaborate.

[@d4nkx549]

@@Geneiveve He lacks the intelligence to elaborate and can only say what youtube videos tell him like an obedient being.

[@littlewolf3063]

Yessssss

[@timothypaulino8454]

Its literally a mix of trivial knowlege and comprehension of the material in front of you

[@spam5151]

@@d4nkx549 struck a nerve?

[@jamesof7seven]

In Finland teachers are highly paid, too. And they are *required* to come from the top of their college class. There is no "teachers college" as in America where teachers are typically at the bottom of their class. And other countries, goddamn it, have different populations, different social burdens. There are more home schoolers every year. Learning happens in freedom. Kids who do well have supportive parents and stable homes. Will it take 8 billion studies showing this before people get a clue? School quashes critical thinking. Everyone knows this. We're born critical thinkers. It's a feature that gets honed as we grow. School gets in the way. Critical thinking is simply knowing the difference between what you know and what you really do not know. That's natural in humans. School takes that away.

[@targus3881]

+Winston Smith As they say it, "Those who can't do, teach. And those who can't teach, teach gym." I think that's a shame.

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

+Winston Smith And you lived in FInland ... when?

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

+Winston Smith "That's natural in humans" No, it's not.

[@jamesof7seven]

David Andrews You say that like there's zero chance I ever lived in Finland. Odd... You need to live in Finland to know those things?

[@jamesof7seven]

David Andrews "No, it's not." Why do you think that?

[@erynaphywel3584]

She is an amazing speaker - very pleasant to listen to. :) Her speech flowed beautifully, and I don't think I heard her say "um" more than once or twice. Thanks for this great talk!

[@RonaldhinoMcLean]

I heard her say "um" just as I read this, lol. But probably the only time in the video she says it, and I agree with the rest of your statement anyways.

[@cartergomez5390]

Yeah, she's very articulate and passionate because she comes from another country. People born in the United States most often don't have that determination.

[@Prettyal127]

"If you invest in the present, the future will take care of itself"

[@zadeh79]

The most important thing they don't measure is intuition and heuristics, pre-analytic skills that account for a bulk of both reasoning and creativity - and which developmental differences exist, between individuals. For all you average IQers taking Trig as freshman.

[@horchatatee5407]

My fingers aren't enough to count the times a teacher has said to me "listen up because this will be on the test". Never have I been told to listen because something will help me in the future, never have I been told to listen because something can help me develop critical thinking.

[@jessicavelo22]

I don't know why I like this talk so much that I don't want to skip a single second of it.

[@Velvetzienz]

I live in Nebraska which is said to be one of the best states for education But the education here is still shit

[@rizkyirawan9657]

Im personally never satisfied with any type of formal education except finland, what we neef to do is just simply educate ourselves and find tutors out there

[@syncfish7892]

lol

[@Mandyn8868]

SmolToxin o lord come to Tennessee where we learn 5 hour ways to solve problems that take 5 seconds because... Common core

[@justanothersam5708]

SmolToxin agreed

[@jasmin689]

Big time.

[@lindaarnoldus9612]

I'm from Starkville Mississippi and let me just say 1. She's right 2. How to heck did I pick a random Ted talk and get the exact one talking about my home town

[@poluki]

Linda Arnoldus That's so cool!

[@tahminehrasekh6168]

Great job Nikki, BRAVO. We are proud of you and your wonderful family, you set a great example for young Iranian Americans.

[@monkbelike]

That's like a perfect projection for what Is needed in the education system . The reason why your parents migrated is very much common. You may find a lot many volunteers for your project in india as well.

[@ZIggyRIbetto]

It is obvious to me that through a simple analysis of the reasoning behind the creation of standardized testing, and the mentality of the founders of this concept, that there is a distinctive connection to eugenics philosophy. The most simple analysis of the philosophy of testing suggests that it mirrors that of the eugenics movement. In that it attempts to establish a baseline of “ordinary” or “intellectual” people and compare everyone else to them. Through this basic analysis, standardized testing effectively quantifies human intelligence by comparing each person to an ideal standard. These Ideals are established in relevance to current power structures, and represent a very specific characterization. So by the basic reasoning behind the testing system it is possible to see that no test can be objective, and more so it favors people who most closely resemble the ideal standard. Secondarily standardized testing cannot be objective towards all people, because it essentially tests the preparedness of the person. When a disproportionate percentage of the population still do not have access to even the basic preparation for these tests these people will obviously do worse that those with the privilege to afford that preparation. Furthermore, because testing favors a socio economic elite that I mentioned above, it lays within the interests this ruling class to continue this system. I believe that standardized testing, reinforces the continuation of disproportionate power structures between people, and therefore prevents equality. Charles Brigham, became a representative and founder of testing culture was, “like many psychometricians of the day, an enthusiastic member of the eugenics movement” Like with many elite, the founders of eugenics and standardized testing found that both suited their situation. The testing procedure establish a means of classification to justify the continued establishment of the elite to higher institutions. Eugenics “scientists” had established their superiority complex, and standardized testing became the evidence that allowed them to support their claims. The effect of all this is the ability to justify the continued separation of economic elite or people who fit the society's ideals to higher levels of education and by extension positions of power. This process relegates minorities to positions that insure that they will continue to be labeled as inferior. This naturalizes the exploitation and oppression of the less fortunate. Ill use my own school as an example of the effect of this system. In current times the institutionalized elitism and racism present in my school system means that Boston Latin School (BLS) is at the forefront of this issue. The establishment of an “elite” exam school in itself recreates the same systems of oppression that have enslaved minorities to a sub-standard economic status throughout history. We continue to justify our elitist culture at BLS by saying that those people (mostly blacks and latinos) didn’t deserve to come here because they didn’t pass the test. It is in the students of BLS self interest to protect their class privilege, this to me is one of the saddest elements of eugenic thinking influence on our education. When 35% of students in Boston Public Schools are black and only 8.5% of BLS is black, it becomes obvious that the system of creating an elitist "exam" school reinforces racial discrimination. Through this system we create schools that develop a class of elite in this country from childhood. What whites, and kids specifically at our school need to think about now is how they are part of the ruling class that institutions like BLS develop in accordance to racist social norms, and then ask what privileges are we willing to give up for equality?

[@perrykitten310]

I live in South Korea...and I have another standardized test today 😥

[@AbraminWonderland]

+Perry Kitten This was months ago, but I hope it went well! And best of luck to you in your future endeavours!

[@Void_Dweller7]

This is 4 years later. But I hope you’re doing well wherever you are.

[@ZeldagigafanMatthew]

"you need to learn about the frog before you can dissect it."? What the fuck? Okay, learning the technique, fine, but isn't the point of dissecting a frog is to learn about the internals of it?

[@JakeMR2]

+Zeldagigafan In my Zoology class, we study the parts of the animals first. But the catch is that we can hardly remember anything from a week break.

[@Gromitz101]

+Jake Vesley A ton of my formal education and advanced education was about memorizing. Its sad because one of my classes I could study for an entire test in the 10 minute walk to class before the test and forget all that I crammed the next day, unless it was something applicable for later. Of course not all the information was just memorizing, some it was recall recognition, as I did all the work and classes, but my success was more about a 50 minute test than the knowledge I chose to cement in my mind.

[@idontcaretbh2999]

You need to know what you're looking for before you dissect. I don't really mean just memorize, but it's better to be able to look at organs and know something about the way they function and fit together before a dissection lab.

[@poluki]

I have a few anxiety disorders and therefore my mental health isn't the best. To be honest. It's gotten so bad and to the point that even waking up in the morning is stressful because school expects so much from me. "Get a B in this subject if you want to be successful." What if we want to go about our lives OUR way and not learn useless information.

[@alfredhitchcock45]

Excuses

[@kotrynavaitkevicius2520]

this is golden

[@doleswar]

Beautiful. Her kind of people give me a lot of hope. Thank you.

[@Jennifer-wc5fs]

standardize test dont mean anything. i met a guy in college that made a 19/36 (which is well below average) on the ACT and still graduated with 4.0 gpa finance degree and went on to work on in a big bank in nyc. i on the other hand did great in standardize test in elementary, middle school, and high school. most of the time i earned a mastery or advanced in most criteria. once it was time to take the act i couldnt even make a pass a 21 on the ACT. i still managed to get into a top flag ship university and start my own business after graduating. standardize test mean nothing when it comes to measuring potential and intellect.

[@mattbenson5250]

You're just pissed because you didn't score high, but you work hard. It does measure intelligence. There are people I know who study for a long time to get 60th percentile on testing and some other friends, and me have never studied and always get 99s (or ace the act). You can work hard and succeed. Intelligence is not based on success but rather how quickly, and well you learn or your ability to figure things out. Hard work is more important, but it equates to the ​knowledge and not intelligence.

[@macygrange6949]

I'm in my first year of high school in the 'amazing' state, Utah. What most students do is memorize facts for our tests for good grades. If you don't get good grades, you don't pass anything. I've seen kids in my class break into panic attacks during tests, I have also. Most kids just joke around and the center of attention is on them, no one sees the others struggling. I've seen parents judge and basically bully their own kids because of grades and numbers. I don't feel like a person in school, just another number amongst the thousands of others. I struggle to belive in myself during school, trying to make my self believe that I am good at this class. I wish our education would change to help others...

[@kritsdeka2522]

Girl, you are amazing. The way you give that speech is quite impressive

[@varenneriocha8712]

So eloquent - and most importantly - oozing self-confidence!

[@Jonathan-xe4ec]

She has no idea how beautiful she is.

[@Pavel7918]

The education system needs to be more personalized. Each student learns differently, if schools were actually efficient there would be personality and satisfaction tests every few months or so to see how the student learns and how much they can handle.

[@mariboni516]

Thank you for stepping up and speaking out! You are a fascinating young lady that will go far in life. Your intelligence and determination is awe inspiring. No matter what life throws at you, promise me that you will not give up and you will continue to tackle any and all obstacles that you encounter with the same excitement and determination. Blessings! ~Maria

[@kinglou480971]

Very Inspiring and I was glad to see the confidence you have in yourself.

[@Angela-xd9hs]

I hate tests, i had to quit what i actually loved doing because i failed social studies. When i told my mom that i was not going to be a politician when i grow up, she got really mad at me.

[@ohalright1438]

don't you just love how mindful ted talks are i mean thE FREAKING APPLAUSE IS THOUGHTFUL AND NICE HOW

[@kaceyburgett6551]

Thank you young lady for that wonderful presentation. You just gave me hope for our future!

[@theoneonyoutube4925]

"If you invest in the present, the future will take care of itself." Thank you for these words.

[@allysacole6961]

Great job Nikki! I currently leave in Hattiesburg, Miss. and I am so incredibly proud of you! I hope that Mississippi Children can experience what you experienced in High School. Standardized testing remains a huge problem here and there are not a lot of state elected officials challenging it. There is no data to show how standardized testing is harming children. As a journalist, I collect and present as much data as possible to the public -- but you know how things can be here. I hope you are doing well today! You are going to do great things in the future! Keep pushing Nikki! Do it for the kids in Mississippi.

[@rachele.3229]

It's amazing how many TED talks are being made about this subject (school, what it does to us, etc) yet nothing is being done to this day. That's the world for you. Trust me. People know it's an issue but it'll never change. At least until someone with these views somehow rises to acknowledgeable power.

[@dhruvkhurana6058]

I studied from 20+ ACT practice tests and an 800 dollar prep program and got a 25 on my ACT.

[@youtuber10003]

Dhruv Khurana I call BS. Hiring a tutor sounds more like a lack of responsibility to point to. "Look, I spent $800 on a tutor, and still didn't get a top score." It's what you put into it. Also, there's no way you took 20 tests.

[@dhruvkhurana6058]

You're doubting me? What incentive could I have to lie about this. I did everything the program required and more, and it actually helped me get from 19 -> 25. The entire summer I spent 2 hours everyday working on ACT. You can find these real tests I worked on at crackact dot com . I worked really hard on my act, but I gave up now because I've accepted that I'm not a good test taker and I realised that after a certain point the score starts to plateau. I'm still really bummed though

[@dhruvkhurana6058]

On my practice tests, I always got 29s and 30s fully timed

[@youtuber10003]

I believe you are exaggerating, as most people do on the internet. Are you taking them under standard conditions? I have never heard of a situation as extreme as yours, so I'm going to go with my gut and say that you're making a hyperbole. It's not so much as even taking the tests; scrutinizing your errors and making sure they don't happen again is the bigger issue.

[@dhruvkhurana6058]

I know I shouldn't be, but I'm very offended that you think I didn't do this. I can see why you think I am lying, but I swear on god I did that much work. I even have a picture of everything I did before my exam. Here are tests I studied with: 2016-2017 official ACT 3 tests 6 free exams approved by the act online And every practice test since 2010 on crack act and even some before that. (Which actually adds up to more than 20) On every test, I spent 30 minutes going over all the answers and reflecting on why I got them wrong. Every test, I did EXACTLY as timed by the official ACT. But I still didn't get the score I wanted. In school I have a 3.86 gpa with 18 dual enrollment classes, 1 AP class and 5 honors classes. Trust me when I say I was as baffled as you are right now when I received my score. It launched me into a depression period. Now I'm studying for the SAT, and seeing if I can do better on that.

[@dianaruthhablo2226]

Goosebumps!!! :o I salute you, nikki!

[@dadswatch2757]

I hope one day that she is on the national education association board of directors. BECAUSE WE NEED HER.

[@stevenporter7065]

Finally people have the balls to rip into the education system

[@paarthivisavalia4862]

i absolutely love this

[@ImranAliRathore]

Good job Nikki! Shabash!

[@shahrammoradi7529]

Perfect job Nikki. I love the way you presente and your confidence level awesome

[@saubhagyinisingh]

How true. Learning means so much more than rote performane. Also, a very beautiful young lady.

[@jennamicheleable]

Inspiring!!

[@TheAwesomest0]

"let's make our children leaders of today. Invest in the present." YES I've always thought giving a child (and I mean a child although this talk is about teenagers) a real world issue, due to their lack of corruption and increased creativity, they'll come up with way better solutions given "a little belief and a little time"

[@patriciavorwald3787]

Thank you for your presentation very informative. I am agree it is primordial to help students to discover their own abilities. Success is no based in a number, it's define by the individual's self-discovery and self-determination.

[@potatochip5941]

Amazing! Preach!

[@lowereastsideastrologist7769]

Conscientiousness, Curiosity, motivation, diligence, farsightedness, special knowledge, expertise, intuition (and related) creativity. Stuff that actually matters to intelligence. Instead standardized tests are glorified short term memory tests.

[@beckgrit3688]

Well said, the performance of a student in class and in the real world give a better example of how good or smart a student is. Someone who is very smart but a really bad test taker(like me) will have bad and faltering grades on tests in face of a regular grade list of straight A’s. My personal experience was in science. I am really good and fond of science and have a good memory, but I have a very bad problem with my brain immediately just forgetting everything i know. This makes me looks like an average student when in reality I was helping other students better understand the material in my free time. Its so unbelievingly frustrated just how much pressure is put onto you when you take a test, not because the pressure is a bad thing but because it disproportionally shows how good a student is.

[@mychannel594]

I prefer to think critically.

[@ahmadabdolsaheb]

Great Job.

[@kt3png]

This needs more views.

[@remonfokir6956]

Great speech

[@hanaadil8924]

Amazing!

[@alvinbruce7801]

superb Nikki going good best of luck

[@ugoernest3790]

Awesome ❤️

[@alextetreault5651]

I agree with her so much.

[@fatpotato3670]

~6 years later, nothing's changed

[@lizziearnold-brown9488]

This was a really motivational and informative speech. I have always been confident with English Language throughout my school years. However, I am currently retaking my Maths after failing it last year. I am not stupid, I just struggle a lot with anxiety and depression but I find exams to be horrendous pressure. In my Maths exam I had a panic attack in 'both' exams over the immense pressure to get a 'C'. I want to go into a career of Make-up and Prosthetics and I feel that it is unnecessary for the government to drill Maths into students that cannot do it. It's like a Mathsy student being forced to get an A in art when they just can't draw???

[@srgurjar406]

i love you MS Nikki Adeli

[@RiazLaghari]

inspiring!

[@taylorbritt499]

"If you invest into the present, the future will take care of itself" I love love love that oh my goodness. Out of that entire talk, that line was what made me kinda raise my eyebrows because I was impressed.

[@nathanbickel3916]

She's a good speaker, considering how nervous she is

[@giftichekare5086]

Education is the light of any Nation

[@MJ-ej9hz]

For a good education, I think that the student should decide what they want to learn. They will then learn what they wanted to know instead of learning something that isn't useful at all. We should at least be learning about things that are important. I just finished a subject about rocks! Now do you really think that learning about rocks is important? No. I don't. We should also focus on the liberal arts. Liberal arts are subjects like art, music, building things(not as a job like a construction worker) and the subjects that are not the core subjects like LA, SS, Math, Science, etc. These subjects engage creativity. They don't focus on unimportant topics. School's should focus on them more.

[@parthparulekar3269]

Great Ted Talk.

[@sophieb221]

I love her

[@niggilywiggily]

We are at the point were a test decides our life.

[@mattbenson5250]

We're not entitled to success. Earn it.

[@ethanmartinez836]

Preach girl preach

[@drewm.2790]

This is what EVERY student thinks in this whole world right now about the school system.. Go girl!.. 👍

[@merakiem]

I hate when teachers assume what their students will be when they get older. I have had so many teachers tell me that I will be a “great teacher/Doctor/nurse/scientist” etc etc. Even after I tell them my plans for the future. No I will not be any of those things. Let me choose my path

[@gojida2207]

For the science fair, my teachers are like "Come up with something new and solve a problem," and then they give us a list of websites to get ideas off of that TELL you how to do your experiments and the results you should get. If you want us to solve a problem, don't make us get an idea off of a website (that's already been done before.)

[@ejrobison99]

easy solution: be homeschooled! The act doesn't go away but a lot of the stress does!

[@aniyahlawrence8356]

Emma Robison it's not that easy

[@crystaldalton2432]

That only helps you not the people at school☺️

[@Riley-lt1fl]

Just maybe some family’s have both parents working a job... Just maybe

[@kayleighd.5457]

That's not the easiest of solutions lol

[@mattbenson5250]

Version, that has nothing to do with this at all. We get it, you're sad but it doesn't always have to be about you.

[@thongola]

God, I love her!

[@copiasrats]

High school should teach actual real life problems. It should teach kids to pay taxes, mange money, nail a job interview, and have good life skills. Not find out what 28 squared divided by 18.28848291 and 1/7 X T97.991284)281010191

[@countronin2599]

"If you invest in the present, the future will take care of itself" So true!

[@Laura-uv3cp]

I live in New Zealand and am in my second to last year of high school. Over the past few weeks, I've been becoming more aware of the education system and testing and what my grades really mean. I don't know if its because its 2017, or because I'm year 12 but I've started becoming so aware that I don't even know why I'm happy with a top grade anymore. Yeah I did well, but so what? The only reason I want a top grade is so I cant get into university and get a job that I want, and getting into medical school is something I'm going to have to work so hard for

[@smcd6101]

"Invest into the present" - LOVE that!!

[@Rastasoul1]

yes!

[@grizzlygorilla5864]

I live an hour and a half from Starkville

[@manishamalhotra4067]

Nikki, your video is simply brilliant! You spoke my mind! I myself have always been against the current scenario of standardized tests. It is odd how they give us a set of questions to solve and somehow, those theoretical questions decide whether or not we are good enough for a good college. India has a system similar to Iran which is further worsened by the quota system. The rights of so many deserving students are taken away because of these tests.

[@guitarraccoon1541]

I'm in the best middle school of my district, and the fact that the best one still acts like this is sad.

[@MadarasRightHand7150]

Woman, I have a newfound respect for you..!!!

[@ritikahmedazad5753]

Lovely