After years of pushing STEM and supporting the increase of standardized testing, Obama has finally changed his stance. The president now believes that schools are having students complete too many standardized tests. It's about time Obama calls for less testing, that is, if he actually believes it.

With the 2016 presidential election around the corner, politicians have demonstrated just how willing to become elected they truly are. Donald Trump claims he will run as an independent candidate should he lose the primary election. But there's a reason Obama has now just decided to change his viewpoint on testing -- he wants to appeal to the public. Most Americans who have any close connection with the education system, (students, parents, young people) are not in favor of students completing so many standardized tests. Unfortunately, this means that Obama is just saying this to gain support for the Democrat party. But he is saying it nonetheless.

Students struggle working on so many of these kinds of tests. Obama states that if the wording and phrasing on these tests are improved, then students will learn more and not be as stressed. The task the Federal government faces is convincing school boards that this change is a sound idea.

States like Florida insist on maintaining their conservative stance that more testing is healthy and necessary for a student's growth. It is ultimately a state government-related decision and Obama recognizes that. But he also believes that standardized tests take the "joy" out of teaching and learning. This would suggest that more discussion-based classes are appropriate for students' success. Some students thrive in a learning environment in which they are voicing their opinions instead of selecting A,B,C, or D on a piece of paper.

Students already spend 25 hours a week just taking standardized tests, another few hours studying for them, and take 112 tests from kindergarten through 12th grade. Tests are merely another obstacle the average kid must endure through school. Children and teenagers are held under control by school boards and rules that they have no say in. That shows a lack of empathy. If adults don't even try to understand how students view testing, America will never increase its already average ranking in education among all countries.

There also needs to be more background information given to students. Why are they taking these tests? Why so many? Why are so many students not good at taking them? Students aren't learning; they're obeying.