NCLB – revise or dump?
I have the start of an interesting discussion on Edwize about No Child Left Behind. Maisie makes the case that there is need for some of the provisions in the current law, and for this reason it needs revising, not dumping. I hope the discussion continues, go, read, comment.
But let’s leave Washington Politics aside for the moment, and talk about regular folks politics. There is annoyance, anger, outrage, frustration with how unfair and even absurd parts of the law are. Students, even principals, and especially parents and teachers are unhappy with it. We have a chance to mobilize. You want to change NCLB to NCLB (revised)? Why not rename NCLB (revised) to be Equity and Quality in Education act, or somesuch? Just a different name. We’re looking for the same changes the AFT and UFT and maybe NEA are talking about.
But instead of saying “revise” say “dump NCLB” and “replace with EQEA” (name doesn’t matter). The anger, annoyance, etc, is there. Using the word “dump,” “cancel,” “defeat,” anything like that, we could tap into the outrage. By saying “revise” we are missing an opportunity. Why not package the revision as a revolt and a fresh start?
JD2718 
exactly. i mean, what’s up with the “reform?” then again, people don’t know how to act when change comes. a lot of people want change, but some of the same people don’t like it when it actually happens. change has to happen slowly for some, and it has to be the right change. with an act like nclb, i personally think it needs to be nixed, but that’s just me … and most people who actually studied the law.
Here’s what I’d like to add to NCLB — a requirement that all students make yearly progress, even those who are already performing at or above grade level. Test the same students at the beginning and end of the year, and see how much they learned. That makes a whole lot more sense than comparing this year’s 10th graders to last year’s 10th graders anyhow!
Here’s what I’d like to add:
First we discredit the hypocrites in government who know NOTHING about logic or learning, yet feel the need to legislate about it.
The “Education President” had his chance in the 90s and blew it. Now we have an Education Secretary shilling for his learning-and morally disabled kid. Read my lips, “No more idiots selling us Bu**sh**.”
Then we pour gas on, burn and scatter the ashes of NCLB.
After that, we get our teachers some real math education, or we just give up on having them teach math.
Education is too valuable to leave up to schools alone. Make sure you learn to read well, and learn math yourself, then help your child.
Our schools will not live up to your expectations in your lifetime.
Check out No Child Left Untested
What upsets me most is how government officials speak with so much authority about education what’s wrong with it, when the truth is that they haven’t a clue that the underfunded requirements they’ve placed on districts, schools, and teachers does leave many kids out in the cold.
NCLB has taught a generation of children that learning isn’t fun, but is about taking tests.
Congress can’t even clean their own house, or stop the killing or do anything at all; so I doubt they will do anything of significance here except make somebody more money (like consultants). I figure NCLB will implode once the 100% AYP thing kicks in and most, if not all, the schools fail.