The Merit Myth and Why Standardized Tests Aren’t Neutral

We’ve been taught that standardized tests measure merit. But what if they’re also measuring unequal access to opportunity? This video explores the history of standardized testing, how early IQ testing was shaped by eugenic thinking, and why school funding based on local property taxes creates unequal educational opportunities. When students receive vastly different resources but are judged by the same test, the results can reinforce existing inequalities rather than simply measure achievement. If you enjoy thoughtful analysis of history, policy, and power, subscribe for more videos that connect the systems shaping everyday life. #standardizedtesting #educationpolicy #meritocracy #schoolfunding #propertytaxes #redlining #educationinequality #publiceducation #schoolsegregation #educationalequity #systemicinequality #iqtest #eugenicshistory #housingsegregation #achievementgap #structuralinequality #historyofeducation #publicpolicy #SmartBrownGirl #blackhistory #socialinequality #americaneducation #educationreform #educationalopportunity #civilrightshistory