Reform School
How "No Child Left Behind" ruined American education.
by Kim Mance
July 21, 2008
"And at least half of the states no longer make the teaching of civics and government a requirement for high school graduation. This leaves a huge gap, and we can't forget that the primary purpose of public schools in America has always been to help produce citizens who have the knowledge and the skills and the values to sustain our republic as a nation, our democratic form of government."
It's not just civics that's taken a hit. Everything not on the standardized test is falling by the wayside.
The Department of Education insists that NCLB gives school districts "unprecedented flexibility in how they use federal education funds." Schools are free to hire more teachers, improve training, and increase teacher pay. Unfortunately, those flexible funds often go to pay for consulting services to help the schools meet the standards dictated by NCLB.
Some schools pay private companies to provide tutoring for students with low scores and some hire consultants to optimize the curriculum to get better test results. Teacher training revolves around improving scores. These companies, many of which include no one with a background in education, are in high demand.
Every teacher I spoke with for this article had a similar response when I asked what changes needed to be made: less emphasis on standard scoring, and more emphasis on the whole child.
Click for Barack Obama's speech on No Child Left Behind.
John McCain called teachers "resistant to change."
To that end, they all want to see more money for vital social services like school-based health clinics. Children's home life and access to basic things like food and health care are not separate from their learning experience.
What's the future of No Child Left Behind this election year? It is a major policy question on which the presidential candidates diverge.
Despite offering mostly glowing remarks about No Child Left Behind, John McCain has said on the campaign trail that some reforms are needed. But he fell into lock-step with the Bush Administration's contempt for educators when he said he feels the problem is mostly that teachers simply need to "Join us in trying to improve education in America rather than, apparently, being resistant to change."
Barack Obama disagrees. In a recent speech he said, "I believe that the goals of this law were the right ones. Making a promise to educate every child with an excellent teacher is right. Closing the achievement gap that exists in too many cities and rural areas is right. More accountability is right. Higher standards are right . . . Labeling a school and its students as failures one day and then throwing your hands up and walking away from them the next is wrong."
With this important election approaching, education reform remains a key issue. No Child Left Behind's future is back in our hands. Scientific tests can't evaluate the actual needs of individual children. Fortunately, voters can.
Article photo: Pat Glennon
©2008 Kim Mance and Nerve Media
About the Author
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Kim Mance is a writer and über feminist based in Chicago. Besides being a workaholic, she spends her time running around after her three active children, two with special needs. She is co-editor of the politically-minded online women's travel magazine, Galavanting. |
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