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Since 9/11, fear of terrorism has been counteracted by heightened security measures. This fear of terrorism and the technological ways it is being fought have grown so rapidly and have become so far reaching, that these security measures are now inducing a certain degree of fear in the people which they are supposed to be protecting. These advanced technological security measures have entered the education system, furthering the degree to which students undermine their rights and self-perception. They are instilling a fear of authority in citizens and students. This concept is evident in Cory Doctorow's novel Little Brother, where a fear of authority limits personal growth, especially in the field of education. This hypertext will explore the ways in which political authority and school authorities are changing the course of development in students, focusing on various forms of standardized testing.

Education. It seems like a simple enough word; however, when fully looked at, there is so much more to education than textbooks, tests, quizzes, and readings. Traditionally, education has been the process of learning to read and write, concepts straight out of a textbook. However, as education has progressed with society, much discussion regarding education has begun, particularly regarding what truly constitutes an education. Most professions today all require critical thinking, people skills, and the ability to connect with others in addition to the information learned from textbooks. Yet there seems to be an increase in the frequency of necessary standardized tests and standardized teaching. Technological advancements in the classroom have also contributed to the standardized teachings in regards to how students’ work is monitored. In Little Brother, Doctorow shows some of the ways in which the students’ learning is very closely tracked through the monitoring of the Xnet and various web-based programs. These ways that learning is tracked contribute to the traditional, standardized teaching that does not emphasize personal connection to course material. With the culture that makes up today’s society, it is worrisome to think that our future leaders are being taught such guided and strict material, instead of being allowed more freedoms to explore the material and communicate with others throughout the learning process.

In a society where education is already so competitive, standardized testing only adds more competition to the mix. Competition is a necessary aspect of education; it motivates other students, inspires them to try their hardest and work to their full potential. However, the proper form of competition is also necessary. Standardized testing is an area of education that puts a huge and often unnecessary strain on students. The purpose of it is clear: to test ones’ ability to achieve a set standard. It is not a new concept and in many ways it is necessary in order to assure adequate knowledge to be able to move on to the next level of education. But it has grown to become so competitive and stressful that it is feared by many. Tests such as the ACT, SAT, MCAT, LSAT, NREMT are so strict in terms of rules and regulations during the test that many students do not perform well in their first attempt due to the competitive mental factor of the test setting. When students do not pass their first time, they are often discouraged to take it again for fear of failing a second time. Yet again, this concept of a culture of fear is seen affecting the outcome of those taking standardized tests and their results. If students are gripped by a fear of failing, they quickly become less motivated to pursue their goals. This fear of failure is seen in Little Brother when Jolu and Van decide not to pursue taking down the DHS with Marcus. To them, changing the way the country is monitored and reversing the overall culture of fear is not worth the risk they would be taking by participating in the fight.

Education is something that should be valued by all in all regards. It is something that is necessary to prosper in society. It is something that forces one to examine their own being and think critically. It should not be fitting into a certain form of test or achieving a certain number on a test. Tests and concrete assignments are necessary in education, but perhaps the most important aspect of education is one’s own personal growth. The most successful people are not the people who get the highest scores on tests, but they are the ones who have reflected on their learning and realized their potential to influence society. They are the ones who have been able to think critically in order to adapt to whatever life presents them with. Strict testing, tense classroom settings, and fear of being wrong are main reasons that the personal growth aspect of education is lacking. Doctorow shows the frustration students feel when they are not allowed to express their personal views and have respectful debates and discussions in school. Multiple times, Marcus questions his teachers regarding controversial topics such as the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment. The times when his teacher shuts him down and does not allow him to express his beliefs are the times when he becomes discouraged and angry about the future of his education. This concept is magnified on a larger scale with the idea of standardized tests being almost too standardized.

A problem that comes up with standardized testing is the idea that teachers teach only toward the test their students are taking at some point during the year. Some teachers are very proficient at actually teaching their students material in addition to teaching for the test, but most are not. It takes years of practice and classroom experience to be able to successfully teach to a test and successfully teach students real material. These tests often become too standardized and ask questions that do not actually test one’s learning, but rather their ability to decode and decipher oddly-worded test questions. While there is a need for standardized tests to use language that is not ambiguous in order to assure correct interpretation among students, there is also a need for the use of language and questions that are of practical importance. A problem with the issue of standard wording is that it fails to provide any true measurement of knowledge because of its simplistic view and therefore limited scope of knowledge.

Despite society's attempts, education and politics are not separate entities in the United States. For years they have been intertwined with each other, especially when it comes to assessing student's capabilities with annual testing. Perhaps one of the most recent ways that education has overlapped with politics was the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This Act, passed by George W. Bush, made it mandatory for each state to develop ways of assessing basic skills in public schools if they are to continue receiving federal funds. The idea that these standardized tests would set high standards and ideals for students started off as a good course of action to guarantee students are receiving the best education possible. However, the presence of mandatory tests means that every teacher in the public school realm is teaching to a specific test. Depending on how good the teacher is, this can be either a really good thing or a terrible thing. Some teachers who have much experience and education are fully capable to efficiently teach their students the material, as well as teaching toward the standardized test. The trouble is found when those teachers with less talent begin to teach only to achieve results on a government-mandated exam. Overtones of this are seen in Doctorow's novel when the students' actions and behaviors are constantly monitored. Through Marcus, Doctorow shows his frustration with the government and how over-exaggerated their restrictions on students are. The goals of keeping such close tabs on students are similar to the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act in that they strive to monitor the progress of students. While both of these techniques are successful to a certain extent, they both have their flaws, especially regarding personal independence and personal growth.