not every kid learns the same way
- I have 3 kids and each of them are stronger in some areas than others. My 3rd grade son is at a 6th grade math level and 1st grade reading. The opposite is for my 4th grade daughter who is at a 7th grade reading level and 2nd grade math. My 5 year old is just right at his level for reading and math. This is just a small sample of kids, on a broader group like a school, I can only imagine what the other learning differences are. These tests are used to pass or fail students to the next grade instead of helping them in the areas that they are lacking. There is no cookie cutter was of learning. All kids are different.
- —snorlaxlvx
Where's the logic?
- I've had to grow up with this law, and trust me, it sucks. Even as a student I can see the illogic. It bases funding on whether students are above average on the tests. Well guess what? The funny thing about averages is that half will be below average. That's just the way average works. The other problem is my district puts a lot of money in special eductaion. That means kids from other districts with special needs go to my school and use up a lot of our money. I'm fine with that, except come test time those are the kids getting lower scores, so now the government gives us less money. So we spend extra money to make sure no child gets left behind and the government cuts our funding because of NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. Where's the logic?
- —Guest affected student
NCLB is Crap
- NCLB is horrible. Kids who do not care about school are now stuck in school because teachers cannot fail them. NCLB has ruined public schools, and now they want the failures to invade private schools? This "Greatest Idea Ever" is the worst idea ever. It is slowly ruining education for the new generation. Twenty years from now, America will be a highly uneducated country.
- —Guest Tyler
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
- Children who are unable mentally or physically, due to severe handicaps, to be able to vote, hold a job or even eat on their own should NOT be mainstreamed into a normal school setting. Too much learning is taken away from the children who CAN be productive in society. I do not think a school district needs to be responsible for their care. I think there is a better setting for those children with severe needs that can help them just as much. Most people are not trained to take care of children with those disabilities.
- —Guest susan
Teaching the Test Is Not Education
- Yes, junk this program. This is a top-down imposed program, probably conceived by political administrative types who have never spent a day in the classroom. This program requires the teacher deliver and the student memorize specific facts, dates and lists. This is not education that develops students to think for themselves, develop solutions, and become worthwhile citizens. This is purely memorization work. Of necessity, the teacher "teaches the test". This is not education. This is similar to education in the Middle East, where "education" is equated to how many specific facts are remembered. All education happens in the frontline of the classroom, not in Washington. With all states needing more education money, simply abolish the Department of Education and send the money to the states. Teachers ARE professionals, so let them do their jobs. Every required Federal test consumes the time available for true education to occur. Junk this program now!
- —ACCT
Junk
- This program is not good enough. It makes it so teacher have to teach kids for the test, not teach for learning, thus narrowing our learning and leaving kids with less of an education, making it harder to adapt when out of school in a "dog eat dog" world.
- —Guest student
WOW!
- This should be trashed and burned! Holding students to such a high standard no matter if they have learning disabilities is outrageous. How could the gov't think that this is a good idea? I agree that students should be performing at higher levels in MOST cases in public schools, But every student isn't capable of keeping up. Children with learning disabilities should have a different program. That teachers are held accountable for the kids that don't score high enough is ridiculous. Education is very important, but this country is in a recession and this is such a big deal? Strange... You would think that they would try and keep money flowing to fund the schools in the first place then worry about the kids that are below grade level. 6th graders are supposed to be doing algebra? I didn't learn that until junior year. Its just plain stupid in my opinion.
- —Guest alex
We all have our opinions
- I have twin daughters in the first grade, I have one in the title I program which is part of the NCLB, and the other which isn't in the program. I noticed that the child in the reading recovery (title I) program is actually reading better then the child not in the program. So I am for the program at this time. If I saw that the teachers were only teaching them certain things for the test, then I might think differently. But I don't see that here.
- —Guest julie
Background?
- I can see why nobody would want the reistatement, but what led to the NCLB Act to begin with?
- —Guest Mardel
NCLB Violates the 10th Amendment
- I'm sorry, but while the idea of standards for education are valid, NCLB violates the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which states, ""The powers not delegated to the United States by this constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states, respectively, or to the people" Since education is not specifically cited in the Constitution, the conducting of this "power" falls under the umbrella of this amendment and is "... reserved to the states." I also find it interesting that the re-authorization of this Act is now TWO years late, yet public schools must continue to follow the guidelines of the original authorization. Sounds like a classic example of "If we (that is, politicians) ignore it, we won't have to deal with it." This reeks with more of the current transformation of the federal system of government into a national system.
- —Guest Curtis Fry
Keep It
- They just need to fix the kinks...it's only been in effect since 2002, nothing can be perfect right away.
- —Guest Stephanie
how long is long enough?
- How long will it take the powers that be to understand that NCLB simply does not work, or could it be that "no child left behind" is considered a success because no child is permitted to get ahead? At this rate, how long will it be before colleges will be taking in students who may be able to function at a middle school level, just to fill seats and keep tuitions coming in? How can we hope to compete globally if our future, our children, are continuously held back and under-taught? I choose to educate in order to attempt to truly teach some of my future students to think, and isn't that truly the goal of education?
- —Guest another future educator
Nice try but not well followed out
- NCLB was a nice thought, but just was not followed out as well as it could have been. I have a niece in the 6th grade who can pass these standardized tests, but who cannot read. I myself am in high school and can notice that teachers with standardized test to pass no longer are able to teach as proficiently as a class with no standardized test. Teachers are forced now to teach their students to pass, not learn.
- —Guest Spencer
Please Leave the White House Behind
- Can we rename it Operation T.H.I.N.K.? Dont know about acronyms, but the novel concept is there....
- —Guest Ratchell
failure
- It's so stupid, Oh wait, Bush made NCLB with his staff who didn't know anything about how school systems work. They never asked teachers about school, and they still don't know what it is. It's bureaucracy. Go figure.
- —Guest jerry
