A Goodbye for Bush's Schoolhouse
Reader Comments
Leonard D. Miles
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NCLB Whitewash in Ohio ...
NCLB was a farce here in Ohio creating a system of inequity and widening the gap for children from low income and high income situations by hiding the "failures" in charter schools that were exempted from proficiency testing.
For many high school seniors around Ohio not eligible for a diploma, "certification of completions" offered through ODE were given to hide the failures.
There were also gimicky study aid programs for Ohio proficiency tests that were sold to schools on contract via a mystery Texas "education" company probably backed by the same folks who brought you NCLB.
No Child Left Behind
It seems to me that the problem is not with the regulation, it is with the way that it is being interpreted and implemented. Isn't the "intent" to ensure that all teachers/school systems are held accountable to ensure that all children are "educated" according to agreed upon "standards" so that a child doesn't get "screwed" because they happen to be in a class/school that is inept. Once again we seem to complicate matters instead of focusing on the reason for the regulation. If we don't continue, or build upon this law, then all the effort, time and money will have been wasted. We will then have to spend more effort, time and money for something "new". More politicians and others will have more jobs and the kid's will once again get screwed.
I have two children currently receiving special education services because the schools/other progessionals didn't do their job. They, and I, have endured years of trauma trying to get them the education that they deserve. During this time, I have seen positive things happening because of regulations that have been implemented. The problems seem to be all the time an energy complaining about the laws instead of how things can be done for the benefit of all.
I may be simplifying things, but really, let's stop this nonsense and make the system work.
No child left behind
In Texas, they have the high school social studies TAKS test so dummed down that a two year old could pass it. They should call it the "No Coach Left Behind" test because it is the only way coaches can keep their jobs.
NCLB
After teaching for over 33 years, I can tell you that the thought behind "No Child Left Behind" sounds good. But what about a 4th grader who reads at a first grade level at the beginning of the year, but advances to read at a 3rd grade level during the year.
However, s/he who must take a test at a 4th grade level. How must that feel to have achieved so much, yet fail so completely when "tested". And the teacher(s) who helped him/her achieve are also labeled as under par!
Remember, not all children have the same developmental pace or the same native ability.
No Child Left Behind
It's no surprise that parents, and particularly teachers, are unhappy with NCLB laws. They are the class who disdains accountability. We're completely failing to educate kids in the US, and both parents and teachers will use copious quantities of words- but no substantial actions- to try to change educational outcomes.
Even though no one wants to see a child "left behind" it is folly to assume all children are "equal". Achievers must either be suppressed, or under-achievers allowed to perform at lower standards to keep them on the same level. What are teachers doing? Mostly, they are "dumbing-down" their classes, so even the less capable are meeting their goals...at the expense of those who could really shine.
It will be interesting to see if Obama's solution is more money for the teacher's unions, more flowery, but useless, rhetoric, more solemn platitudes, OR real "change" that results in better education.
