NCLB = EVERY Child Left Behind!
Posted 33 weeks 3 days ago byNo Child Left Behind was created to close the "achievement gap" and ensure that no child is trapped in a failing school. As a professional educator, I can assure you that we are definitely closing the achievement gap! Unfortunately, we are pushing all of our children to mediocrity. Don’t be fooled by the statistics that tout academic achievement levels are on the rise and drop-out rates are decreasing. It is nothing but a Jedi Mind Trick.
Consider this: The performance of a student in Texas, and many other states, is measured by the results of a one test. This one test can keep a student from being promoted and even graduating high school. School districts spend an enormous amount of time and money “teaching” to the test.
A typical school (not in the snowy suburbs) will give a practice test in the fall. Students who do well on the practice test still sit through same instruction as those who did not pass. This includes a deluge of test “practice” worksheets. Students who failed this practice test are given several hours per week of free tutoring and special classes to drill strategies for passing the test. Several chances will be given for students to retake the test; summer school is even provided at no charge. If a student cannot master the exam a committee can decide to retain the child or pass him/her to the next grade.
While this might appear to benefit students, it is a mere band-aid covering an amputated limb. Fundamentally, the “system” doesn’t care if you can read, write, or think. It is only important for you to PASS THE TEST!
If we applied this same school of thought to football, my brother would be the starting running back for the Dallas Cowboys and I would be a flat-chested, out of shape cheerleader in blue and white fringe. Why do we allow natural ability to be recognized and nurtured in the athletic world but not in the intellectual world?
Thoughts
NCLB = Titanic mistake
Submitted on January 19th, 2008 by HarryThe problem with the original NCLB bill is that, like so many other pieces of legislation emanating from the Bush Administration, its practical effects have been the opposite of the bill’s title. The goal of 100% literacy is laudable, and garnered much bi-partisan support in 2001. However if that goal can only be achieved by forcing higher dropout rates or playing games with testing standards, what has really been accomplished?
What we need are smaller classrooms, more teachers with time and proper materials to teach with, and fewer federal bureaucrats armed with draconian sanctions micromanaging the curriculum. Oh and maybe we could afford a little more in the school maintenance and security budget, too?
According to a study authored by classroom teacher and 2006 Goodman Award winner Elizabeth Jaeger, the misguided accountability formula used by NCLB could result in as many as 70% of all schools getting a failing grade by 2010. Setting up our schools--and our children--for failure is simply wrong.
The holes in NCLB are too large and numerous to be patched. Perhaps the best thing we could do is to let it gently slip beneath the waves.
The Spirit of NCLB
Submitted on January 18th, 2008 by TX_TeacherEducational accountability must be divided among schools, teachers, students, AND parents! I realize there must be measurable standards in place to ensure the quality and equity of education. The problem is not the desire to improve our schools; the problem is believing you can measure successful aquisition of knowledge with one test.
What happens to the students with severe learning disabilities or mental retardation? NCLB allows 2% of a school's test taking population to take an alternate, state developed test and another 1% is allowed to document progress with a classroom observation of life skills. In total, 3% can have modified tests. The average rate for disabilities is 2 to 5 times this number depending on the type of disability. I am not a mathmatician but things just don't add up. Never fear! In 20 years no one will even question the logic of our political system because we are creating a generation of test takers that possess little to no thinking skills.
Some children left behind?
Submitted on January 18th, 2008 by Joel...there's part of me that suspects NCLB was cooked up to hold public schools to impossible standards in an attempt to make private school vouchers all but inevitable.
But there's part of me that likes the spirit of the thing, at least, in that we push schools to actually try to educate all their students. What kind of jobs are there for high school dropouts these days?
Made my mother swear
Submitted on January 17th, 2008 by RandiMy mother, the sweetest teacher in the world, dropped the f bomb over Thanksgiving Dinner talking about 'No child left behind'.
California has the same problem
Submitted on January 17th, 2008 by MillieEvery elementary school teacher that I know in California has the same concern. That the curriculum is now based on teaching to the test. Has this made for higher test scores? Sure. But the children truly aren't learning anything in depth and aren't able to explore a subject fully even when they are sincerely interested in the subject. It's sad that every child no matter their interest and ability is either left wanting more or given a sugar coating of every subject.