'No Child Left Behind' should be more than a slogan -- Ed By Howard Dean

[Khephra]

'No Child Left Behind' should be more than a slogan

By Howard Dean
Special to The Times

This week, President Bush celebrated the second anniversary of the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act. I, on the other hand, see little cause for celebration.

While the ideals espoused in No Child Left Behind (NCLB) are admirable, the realities of the Bush plan are not. NCLB imposes rigid and expensive mandates on public schools. It judges adequate yearly progress using a one-size-fits-all formula, a measure that gives schools an incentive to lower testing standards in order to meet federal requirements and, sadly, to push out students that may bring down a school's average score. Under these new standards, 26,000 of America's 93,000 schools "failed" to make adequate yearly progress in 2003 and many are not receiving the additional support they need to improve.

This federal takeover of public education is the last thing we need. I never understood why Washington politicians think they can design a cookie-cutter policy that will work for all local schools. Parents, teachers, and school boards need resources and support, not Draconian measures that set them up for failure.

But perhaps worst of all, the president and Congress have consistently underfunded the NCLB budget. The president's own 2004 budget proposal would underfund the act to the tune of $9 billion, leaving local communities — many of which are already facing severe budget gaps — to make up the difference. It is absolutely unconscionable for the president to demand that states pay for federally required programs without properly funding them.

more............

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2001831790_dean08.html

[adamrsilva]

1. This is good

we need to make this an issue.

[ozone_man]

9. Yes, it will be a big issue.

I think most teachers in the know would like to see this program eliminated. It seems aimed at destroying public schools.

Dean is well informed about this stupid, underfunded program. Who made up these standardized tests, were there any minorities involved, etc.? One size does not fit all. This and the IQ tests are WASP tests that do not account for racial, cultural, and socioeconomic differences.

[maxanne]

2. Dean is right

on with this. His ideas about education have garnered him huge support here in NH amongst teachers.

All politicians pay lip service to children - but Dean has a proven record of acting on behalf of children in Vermont.

Thanks for posting this Kef!

[Khephra]

3. You're very welcome!

:-)

[JNelson6563]

4. excellent op-ed

Thanks for posting. :hi:

Julie

[burning bush]

5. This deserves more than 4 or 5 responses

:kick:

Thanks kephra, nice post

[quaker bill]

6. It is just another good reason to donate

Think I will pop over there and drop him a few.

[PBinOregon]

7. Excellent Op Ed

Very well stated by Dr. Dean.

It has been a tough week or so with all the attacks on him, but I went to the meet up last night here in Ashland, and there were close to 60 people there, a significant boost in numbers, and the enthusiasm was very clear.

Keep going, Dr. Dean!

[slinkerwink]

8. and we're not giving up the fight yet to anyone!

:bounce:

[Cheswick2.0]

10. Most people in education will agree with this

Teachers and Adminstrators alike will agree with this statement. They are under the gun to perform to the standards that have been imposed and they resent the way NCLB is being used to take over their school.
Governors all over america will agree with this also. They are the ones who have had to raise taxes to pay for the unfunded mandate.
This is a winner for Dean. He is absolutely correct.