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Cutting the Gordian Knot of the Education 'Crisis' with Teacher Testing. A Blunt Instrument That Crushes Marginalised Pre-Service Teachers

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Title: Cutting the Gordian Knot of the Education 'Crisis' with Teacher Testing. A Blunt Instrument That Crushes Marginalised Pre-Service Teachers
Language: English
Authors: Kirsten Lambert (ORCID 0000-0001-7910-2373), Alison L. Hilton (ORCID 0000-0002-1242-0577)
Source: Journal of Education Policy. 2025 40(2):220-241.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Foreign Countries, High Stakes Tests, Teacher Competency Testing, Neoliberalism, Educational Policy, Disabilities, Test Anxiety, Diversity, Politics of Education, Disclosure, Testing Accommodations
Geographic Terms: Australia
DOI: 10.1080/02680939.2024.2405731
ISSN: 0268-0939
1464-5106
Abstract: This paper offers a brief yet evocative glimpse into marginalised pre-service teachers' (PST) experiences of teacher testing in Australia's High-stakes Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE). Utilising Critical Disability Theory (CDT)in particular, Goodley's (2016) concept of neoliberal-ableism, we problematise teacher testing as a gatekeeping tool for students undertaking teacher education. The article highlights how neoliberal education policies in Australia have disempowered and turned away talented and empathetic future teachers. By illuminating their embodied experiences of stress and anxiety, we interrogate neoliberal discourses of power and how teacher testing is used as a blunt instrument to solve complex problems and funnel public funding to private corporations. As part of a larger longitudinal research project, we offer four narrative portraits giving voice to vulnerable PSTs who have become unwitting victims of the high-stakes test juggernaut. This article focuses on five emergent themes from the research: (a) the embodied impact of stress and anxiety on test-takers, (b) withholding of information regarding testing processes and support, (c) the lack of differentiation available to PSTs (d) impacts of edu-businesses and the business of education on vulnerable participants and (e) a passion for differentiation.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1469794
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Cutting the Gordian Knot of the Education 'Crisis' with Teacher Testing. A Blunt Instrument That Crushes Marginalised Pre-Service Teachers
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kirsten+Lambert%22">Kirsten Lambert</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7910-2373">0000-0001-7910-2373</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alison+L%2E+Hilton%22">Alison L. Hilton</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1242-0577">0000-0002-1242-0577</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Education+Policy%22"><i>Journal of Education Policy</i></searchLink>. 2025 40(2):220-241.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preservice+Teachers%22">Preservice Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+Stakes+Tests%22">High Stakes Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Competency+Testing%22">Teacher Competency Testing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neoliberalism%22">Neoliberalism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disabilities%22">Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Anxiety%22">Test Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diversity%22">Diversity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Politics+of+Education%22">Politics of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disclosure%22">Disclosure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Testing+Accommodations%22">Testing Accommodations</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1080/02680939.2024.2405731
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  Data: 0268-0939<br />1464-5106
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  Data: This paper offers a brief yet evocative glimpse into marginalised pre-service teachers' (PST) experiences of teacher testing in Australia's High-stakes Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE). Utilising Critical Disability Theory (CDT)in particular, Goodley's (2016) concept of neoliberal-ableism, we problematise teacher testing as a gatekeeping tool for students undertaking teacher education. The article highlights how neoliberal education policies in Australia have disempowered and turned away talented and empathetic future teachers. By illuminating their embodied experiences of stress and anxiety, we interrogate neoliberal discourses of power and how teacher testing is used as a blunt instrument to solve complex problems and funnel public funding to private corporations. As part of a larger longitudinal research project, we offer four narrative portraits giving voice to vulnerable PSTs who have become unwitting victims of the high-stakes test juggernaut. This article focuses on five emergent themes from the research: (a) the embodied impact of stress and anxiety on test-takers, (b) withholding of information regarding testing processes and support, (c) the lack of differentiation available to PSTs (d) impacts of edu-businesses and the business of education on vulnerable participants and (e) a passion for differentiation.
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        Value: 10.1080/02680939.2024.2405731
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 220
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Preservice Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High Stakes Tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Competency Testing
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      – SubjectFull: Neoliberalism
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
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      – SubjectFull: Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Diversity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Politics of Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disclosure
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      – SubjectFull: Testing Accommodations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Australia
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Cutting the Gordian Knot of the Education 'Crisis' with Teacher Testing. A Blunt Instrument That Crushes Marginalised Pre-Service Teachers
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            NameFull: Alison L. Hilton
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