No Child Left Behind - opinions?

[EveDallas]

The thread asking opinions on Bush's presidency made me start thinking about this. What do you think of NCLB? Personally, I think that it was the WORST educational decision EVER. I've spent the past six years watching my son fall further and further behind. Every single year at his end of year IEP meeting, I implore the powers that be not to promote him to the next grade. Every single year, he is promoted ahead anyway (and I'm sure countless others who are not ready are as well) so that the school system can be in compliance with NCLB. Not to mention the fact at least half of the school year is spent "teaching to the test". If this decision is ever rescinded, I will celebrate.

 

[AftertheSunset]

Just wanted to say I love your name, EveDallas. Where's Roarke?

 

[djm99]

I agree that NCLB was a bad idea. There is a way IMO to hold teachers responsible. One way is actually measuring the class she a teacher directly teaches. For example, my husband taught gifted students. His school was able to track his math students (because the school was small) and know that 75% of his students tested in the proficient area. He was directly responsible for a group of kids. I don't like that a whole district is punished because some are not doing a great job. Also, I think there should be a test for students on an IEP (in the disability area), not just Severely Mentally ******** Students (student whose IQ's are around 40).

 

[Took]

Agree, OP. NCLB is a poorly conceived effort. Hope we get rid of it next year.

 

[mamacatnv]

Several of us were having a discussion on this topic last week, then the OP had a hissy fit and our thread died.

I hope that some of those posters chime in, there was a lot of knowledge on the subject and it was a really interesting thread.



I am not a fan of NCLB for many reasons. The main reason being that the above average kids are left to their own devices.

Example:
My DD's former elem. school received a $250,000 grant that was to be used her 3rd grade year. The school hired additional special ed aids, ESL aids and implemented several new programs to bring the non-english speakers and the special ed kids up to the bar. Every single penny of that money was spent on the lower end of the schools population and not a penny was spent for some sort of enrichment program for the upper kids. While I understand why it happened, I do not think it should have happened.

The school is still classified as "non achieving" and every year they tell us it is because of the special ed kids.

The emphasis put on the testing and the things that are told to the kids ie: you need to do well so you can go to 4th grade etc. is ridiculous but I do understand where it is coming from.

Another issue I have is that all kids are included in a classroom the majority of the time. The ones with behavior problems, the ones with learning problems and the ones that are average and above average. I do not understand how any one of these kids gets what they need on a daily basis from this type of setting.

I had enough - I moved my above average DD to a Charter School that has a high academic standard and will not lower their standards to accomodate kids that cannot keep up.

While I get the reasoning behind NCLB I as a parent view it as a dismal failure and a detriment to the future of our kids.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Go get that other thread. It was excellent. The thread title is "deleted".

 

[eliza61]

Hate it,
My school district now concentrates on improving test scores so it can stay off of a "non achieving" list than it does actually concentrating on the students.

 

[happygirl]

I think it a good concept. Some schools didn't carry it out correctly.

 

[Kae]

It was a try that didn't work. Hopefully something better can come of it. I think we need to hold more than the teachers & schools responsible, how about the parents also. 2 of our schools have to go an hour longer than rest because over 75% students do not do their homework. So they get time at school to do their homework.

Kae

 

[Master Mason]

I'm not particularly a fan of NCLB, but the problem goes deeper than just this law. Since the inception of the Federal Education Department our schools have been in a steady decline.

So don't just get rid of a bad Law, get rid of a bad Federal Department. Send the education decisions back to the states where they belong.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

While I think the thought behind it is nice, to see all children show improvement and meet standards, the reality and implementation of it is a beast. The "accountability" piece translates into "lots and lots of paperwork". I spend more time documenting what I've already done with my students than planning for what I'll be doing next with my students. And EVERYTHING has to be "rigorous". That can get boring fast.

 

[kirbsam]

it is a great concept, unfortunately, it is not funded appropriately. and the progressions to be in compliance are unrealistic. it really has very little to do with social promotion in high functioning districts, like the op suggests.

 

[EveDallas]

Just wanted to say I love your name, EveDallas. Where's Roarke?

Buying a small planet most likely.

 

[Macca1111]

Short answer (when I saw the title of the thread): It blows. It was one of the most destructive things the Bush administration could have done to education, but I suppose when you coasted your way through school it's hard to be an authority on what students need. It made everyone's life miserable when I was teaching, and I only hope it goes away before I get back to it. Other people above have made the points I would have more eloquently, so my first thought stands.

 

[wtpntigger2]

As a special ed teacher, I hate it! My students with learning disabilities are expected to pass their grade level tests. If they could successfully do grade level work, they wouldn't be in special education - DUH!!!!

I hope the new administration repeals it, or at the very least, finds a way to make it work better for all students.

 

[Magic Mom]

I like the idea of NCLB- accountablity, standards and state oversight, but the execution hasn't worked. I can see some good and some bad in it.

 

[MALE*RN*777]

I have a niece that can only read on a 4th grade level-graduated and had her drivers test read to her and other type of tests. She is a great kid but just like you was just pushed through the system. My kids are in private school because we have lost hope in the public school system in our area. We need to remember that this is not the case in all school systems.

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

As a special ed teacher, I hate it! My students with learning disabilities are expected to pass their grade level tests. If they could successfully do grade level work, they wouldn't be in special education - DUH!!!!

I hope the new administration repeals it, or at the very least, finds a way to make it work better for all students.

I am a special educator also. I do like the fact that are students are now included in many ways that they weren't previously. Also, I believe in having high expectations for students. Having said that, our district is trying to get students with IQ's between 55-69 to pass the testing! I guess people don't understand what global delays really mean. Sometimes, no matter how good a teacher is, there will and should be some students with disabilities that will not be able to pass standardized testing. Isn't that what qualifies them for Special education to begin with?

 

[imabrat]

As a student, this was one of THE WORST educational decisions ever. We don't LEARN anymore, we practice for "the test". Here it's a PSSA. I think they're easy, but maaaaaany kids can't pass it.

Bottom line, we don't learn. We practice, practice, practice.

 

[Zuzu03]

Has anyone tried to read it? It's IMPOSSIBLE! The idea behind it was good, but like other people have said, it demands things that many school budgets just cannot cover. As a high school teacher (in a very rural area), I am all for accountability, but the proof for me is my students demonstrating that they are meeting, mastering and exceeding the standards set by the American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages. Hopefully with the new administration it will either go away or be completely revamped.