No Child Left Behind... unless they drop out.
Submitted by J.Levi.Knapp on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 6:39pm
Imagine reducing the fixed rate of student loans by half. What would be the benefits of making grants available for the expansion of graduate degree programs for minority and low-income students? How could a representative in congress really have the best interest of their constituents in mind when they vote against an amendment that is titled the, “Reverse The Raid on Student Aid Amendment”, (HR609)?
When a voter reads that an education bill has passed the House with a vote of 356-71, and they read that this bill amended the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower interest rates for student borrowers, (HR 5), that voter has to ask themselves about the 71 who voted against such a measure.
When a bill is introduced to the House floor that would:
Allow Head Start programs to increase the number of participants by 35 percent, by including participants whose families incomes are between 100 and 130 percent of the poverty level
Would mandate that by 2013 at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers and education coordinators have a baccalaureate or advanced degree in childhood education and all teaching assistants have an Associates Degree
Would mandate that by 2010, all teachers providing direct services to children and families participating in Early Head Start programs have a minimum of a child development associate credential
Would require that all Head Start teachers attend 15 hours of professional development training per year
When that bill, (HR 1429), passes the House 381-36, we have to ask ourselves who those 36 No’s are and who exactly they are representing in Congress?
When HR 4371 is brought to the House floor and is:
Attempting to make colleges and universities accountable for the increases in tuition and fee hikes
Asking textbook manufacturers to divulge the retail cost of textbooks and supplemental materials before selling them to school officials
Requiring those manufacturers that bundle text books and supplemental materials to also make them available separately.
Requiring colleges and lending institutions to disclose to the government any preferred lender relationships
Prohibiting colleges from entering into any kind of revenue sharing arrangement with lenders.
Expanding federal Pell Grants to allow awards of up to two grants for students taking more than two semesters
Raising the maximum Pell grand from $5,800 to $9,000 per academic year
When that bill is passed by a vote of 354-58, we are forced to ask about those 58 representatives and wonder whose best interest they are looking out for.
Virginia Foxx voted against all these measures.
“I was pleased to join President Bush today as he highlighted the successes of the No Child Left Behind Act… I fully support the President’s statement that state and local government should be in control of education policies and that the federal government’s limited responsibility lies in providing incentives and accountability. As a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I look forward to continue working with President Bush on strong education initiatives and focusing on the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act.”—Rep. Virginia Foxx, NC05
Oh the ills of standard-based education reform. A system of incentives and penalties sets up a breeding ground of test manipulation for schools, districts and states. Manipulations like reclassifying drop-outs to reduce unfavorable statistics. Missouri, for example improved test scores but only because they admittedly lowered test standards.
NCLB's focus on math and English language skills may elevate scores on two fundamental skills while students lose the benefits of a broad education. Isn’t there value in art? Music? Drama?
A study conducted by the American Heart Association and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education found that diminishing physical education in school has contributed to rising levels of childhood obesity, leading to an alarming rise in childhood Diabetes.
NCLB requires public secondary schools to provide military recruiters the same access to facilities as a school provides to higher education institution recruiters. Schools are also required to provide contact information for every student to the military if requested. Students or parents can opt out of having their information shared, and educational institutions receiving funding under the act are required to inform parents that they have this option. If parents choose to opt out their children’s information will also be withheld from college and job recruiters.
Virginia Foxx, NC-05 supports No Child Left Behind, I wonder who of her constituency this best serves?
On April 17th 2008, Roy Carter who is challenging Foxx released the following education statement:
As a retired public school educator and football coach, my life has been dedicated to educating young people and motivating them to achieve their goals.
I grew up in the rural mountains of Western North Carolina and my parents instilled in me the value of education as a means to rise above poverty and create a better future for my family. I am here today because I had good teachers and faithful parents who encouraged me to stand tall when times got tough. Through tuition assistance for low-income students I worked my way through school and earned a college degree.
During my forty-year career in public education, I have experienced the challenges that stem from inadequate funding for early education programs overcrowded classrooms, unfunded Federal mandates, and an increasingly high cost of college. We owe our young people a strong public education that prepares them for a lifetime of success and we have an obligation to help make a college education affordable for every student.
In Congress, I will be a champion for public education and I will work tirelessly on behalf of the children of our district. I can tell you from personal experience that a good education begins early in life and makes all the difference in a child’s future. I will fight to expand and enhance Head Start and work to ensure a quality early education for every child in the fifth district.
We must address the problems that the No Child Left Behind Act and its misguided emphasis on testing over teaching has created for our teachers, administrators, and students. I firmly believe that No Child Left Behind is the cruelest thing to happen to public education in my entire career. The challenges we face and the failure of this act have led some to throw up their hands and walk away from our students and public schools. In Congress, I will reject any attempt to funnel public funds to schools that are exempt from public policy. I will work to replace No Child Left Behind with a fully funded program developed by leading educators, to ensure that every child in America has a fantastic public education. I will also make sure that teachers and schools have the tools and the local control they need in order to be successful.
We must work together to increase parental involvement by rewarding schools for both academic and extracurricular success. As a teacher in some of North Carolina’s most challenging schools I was able to set up several innovative student and community programs to combat drop-out rates, drug and alcohol abuse, and illiteracy. These programs worked because they focused on building self-esteem and rewarding students for their progress.
As a member of the United States Congress, I will fight to make college affordable and accessible to all students. I will support the fabulous Community Colleges in our district that play a vital role in preparing our students for 21st century jobs and provide affordable, local education for the first two years of college. I will work to expand and increase funding for Pell Grants and fight for low interest rates on need-based federal student loans.
In Congress, strengthening public education will continue to be my top priority. I will never turn my back on our students and I will stand arm in arm with my fellow teachers as we work to make North Carolina’s public schools the best in the nation.
This is why Roy Carter was endorsed by both the North Carolina Association of Educators and the National Education Association. This is why he will defeat Virginia Foxx in November.
"We need someone in Congress who puts education, educators, and children first. We need someone who will stand up for those voiceless interests rather than appealing to a blind allegiance to the White House’s misguided priorities in educational policy. Who better to stand up for education than a lifelong educator like Roy Carter?"
---Tripp Jeffers, President of the Forsyth County Association of Educators and member of the North Carolina Association of Educators Governmental Relations Commission
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It's hard to say who's more miserable
Myrick or Foxx. They both give a bad name to women in leadership, in my opinion. And they both give me the creepy willies.
Tolerance ends
I agree about the creepy willies
Although I don't think it has anything to do with women in leadership, but everything to do with just plain horrible representation. Male or Female, these ladies need to pay closer to attention to the needs of their constituents. What gets me is that people keep voting for them.
~Levi
http://www.roycarterforcongress.com
Levi
Completely modify, or scrap NCLB... Now!
If elected, I will assist, or lead the way in removing unfunded, unproductive and unnecessary Federal Mandates from NCLB and , if necessary, scarp it for an education program which is more State-centric and locally influenced; A program Teachers and Administrators can influence.
http://MarshallAdame4Congress2008.com
A Novel Idea
Certainly you're not proposing that an education plan have the input of educators... Well that just makes.... sense!
~Levi
http://wwww.roycarterforcongress.com
Levi
No Child Left Behind
NCLB has some good elements. Some of those elements say that the teacher must be certified to teach the subject and age that they are teaching. I believe that's a good thing. I also think it's a good thing that school systems are held accountable in some way for their performance. However, where NCLB lets American Children down is by assuming that One Size Fits All (or one test fits all), and by passing unfunded mandates to the states. NCLB is responsible for all teacher's assistants having to have at least associate degrees to be in the classroom. That's not a bad idea. You don't want to throw out the baby with the bathwater. You want thoughtful, intelligent discussion about the entire program, and listen to experts (educators, for goodness sakes, not politicians) about what works to educate America's children.
Just my .02 cents.
This is the Week of the Young Child, and I appreciate Levi's nod to it. I had planned all week to write post about it, but have not had an opportunity to give it the time it deserves. It's another one I owe y'all.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
__________________
"My darling girl, when will you understand that 'normal' is not necessarily a virtue. It rather denotes a lack of courage." - Alice Hoffma
Appreciative
Linda, I really appreciate you taking the time to always comment, thoughtfully. I agree with you that elements of accountability are important in education. I certainly had teachers that needed to be reeled in, that had no love of the profession or the students they taught. However, I was really blessed with some teachers that were able to explore different teaching methods with me, that took the time to figure out how I learned best. Those kinds of alternative teaching methods were what saved me. Luckily I had a mother who made me come home from school and read to her everyday to help reverse my dyslexia. Without the patience and care of those teachers, I don't know if I would've given up out of frustration or what.
Pat Carter, Roy's wife, who is also a retired teacher was telling me about the struggles of having to try to 'teach the test' and still create a learning environment that 4th graders would enjoy and excel in.
Teaching is such a noble pursuit. How much nobler would it be if we were able to still attract bright, innovative professionals to take part in it.
~Levi
http://www.roycarterforcongress.com
Levi
Levi
Exactly, Levi.
If excellent teachers are in place, with the appropriate supports, small class sizes, and freedom to use different curriculum approaches for differently-abled students (like those with dyslexia, for instance), then standardized tests would not be necessary. Of course I'm talking about educational utopia! But why not reach for that? The phrase "No Child Left Behind" was stolen by the Bush Administration from the wonderful organization The Children's Defense Fund. Why not steal it back?
Seriously! Why not take on the challenge of actually leaving no child behind. It would be expensive as, well, as a war in Iraq. But if you hired enough motivated educators to keep class sizes appropriately small and actually paid them what they were worth, gave them the tools that they needed, and then got the heck out of their way, you would see an incredible renaissance in American education.
Your mother, by the way, showed an incredible amount of love (of course), and I'm so glad she helped you over come dyslexia. When I was working at an Art and Design school in Pittsburgh, I taught a few English classes as well as running the book and supply store. I discovered that many of the students who were in the school were dyslexic. So we started a reading group - their choice of material, of course, they were adults. One of the techniques that worked very well for many of them was reading through a piece of red film. I have no idea why this worked. One of the young men shared it with us. I actually taught three of the students to read that way. They were functionally illiterate and had been pushed through the schools and out to a "trade" school. Talented artists all, they are now doing quite well for themselves. And they are reading, too. :)
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
__________________
"My darling girl, when will you understand that 'normal' is not necessarily a virtue. It rather denotes a lack of courage." - Alice Hoffma
Chartreuse Kittens
There's a book called "BLUE CATS and CHARTREUSE KITTENS: How Synesthetes Color Their Worlds".
Look for it, it sounds like something you might be interested in. I found it amazingly helpful for recognizing my own learning patterns, as well as helping me teach others.
At the time I was frustrated because my boyfriend and I were both in Acting school and he couldn't memorize his lines. His mom sent that book and it made perfect sense. We started color coding all of his scripts and the results were amazing.
I think its important to be able to look at those alternative teaching methods and incorporate them.
Levi
Thank you for bringing this up. Education in general is
well and truely hamstrung by this NCLB boondoggle.
The testing aspect of it especially so. All those who favor this nonsense need to watch for the whole session as a high school student cries without let up for two hours while forced to take yet another stupid read & bubble test that the student has no chance of passing.
No Child Left Behind my @$$. They can kiss my left behind.
Person County Democrats
Person County Democrats
Boondoggle
I for one feel that the word, 'boondoggle' is used far too little in our daily lives. I am making a commitment here and now to fit it into my daily usage.
Was that an SAT word?
~Levi
http://wwww.roycarterforcongress.com
Levi
More like a GRE word. The SAT was a loooong time
ago for me.
While we are promoting words, try homonculous. It's fun to say and gets you some eyebrow-cocked looks. You can even double your fun by using the plural to refer to your kids - as in "my little homonculi."
(So was that at all entertaining, or was it another boondoggle?)
:D
Person County Democrats
Person County Democrats
Boondoggled Homonculi
Equally entertaining. ;)
I certainly hope your kids go to a private school, I don't know what would happen if you referred to them as your little homonculi at school or from the sidelines of a soccer game!
~Levi
Levi
NCLB leaves kids behind.
My son is at risk of repeating the third grade b/c his test score in math is 4 points off the mark. He is excelling in reading and other areas, just testing poorly in math (some of the questions he transposed wrong from the booklet to the bubble sheet). Holding him back would be the worst thing that could possibly happen to him academically and socially. I will make sure that it doesn't happen, but that is not the case for other kids.
Isn't it just like Bush & Co. to come up with a plan called 'no child left behind' that leaves kids behind? ugh.
Thanks to Levi for posting Coach Carter's ideas and for pointing out Foxx's (callous) record. :)
When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on. FDR
I'm an idealist without illusions. JFK
Stand up to standardized testing!
Boiler--
Thank you.
The situation with your son sounds horrible. What does one do when they can't afford private schools or expensive tutors?
I am sure your son would do just fine if someone were able to teach him those math techniques through color patterns, or maybe music.
This is why it is so important to scrap NCLB, to gain the input of educators, and to elect the people, like Roy Carter, who are committed to doing just that.
Levi
http://www.roycarterforcongress.com
Levi
Then there's the opposite side
of NCLB.
My son was placed in a 2nd grade class with a high number of ESL students. He spent his days terribly bored and frustrated with school. Now I understand my son is a little odd as he knows his multiplication tables and has a fairly vast vocabulary, however, I had hoped they would offer him some sort of challenge. As time progressed, his frustration grew and I began asking to switch him into a class where the students were more on his level. I was told that was impossible. I later came to find that my son's scores were helping to maintain the overall class average. I eventually pulled him out of that school and placed him in another public school.
His new teacher called me 3 days after he started to tell me how he had finished his standardized math test in 15 minutes with 100%. She felt it was important to place in him an advanced learning class in order to stimulate. I was fighting tears. FINALLY!
Now...what if I couldn't pull him out of the school. What if he continued to simply "maintain" a classrooms scores to ensure funding? Could he eventually become so bored and frustrated with school as he aged that he too became a high school drop out? I've seen it happen before.
It's time to be done with NCLB! Not all children are the same. They have different strengths and weakness and the greatest teachers recognize that. Perhaps if we used the small stipend of money assigned to NCLB to pay our teachers a decent wage and gave them the tools they needed to teach in a nurturing environment, our children would simply excel.
It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
- William G. McAdoo
Scary
I had the EXACT same situation happen with my son when he began kindergarten: ESL class, bright child. It took us THREE schools until we landed in the right one.
Three Schools
I am interested in knowing what school administrators and the teachers were telling you during this process??
~Levi
http://www.roycarterforcongress.com
Levi
Keeping up averages....
Thank goodness you were able to make that decision, that you were able to help your son succeed by getting him into an environment where his abilities were recognized. I agree, it is wrong to hold back the student because of the need to keep up averages. It's sickening really.
Thanks for sharing this story. It is important to see how both sides are effected.
Levi
Levi
There are a lot of processes and bureaucratic steps
involved, particularly with bright children in the younger grades. It's important that parents advocate for them (fortunately, we know that Casey and Frank are great advocates).
But imagine the parents who don't know that they have the right to question the school administration - or if the Casey's son's teacher didn't recognize the need to move her son to a more appropriate class? Imagine now that the bright child is an "ESL" student, and the parent doesn't speak English? Or the opposite scenario - a child with learning or developmental problems whose parents are for some reason intimidated by the system.
Now imagine that there are advocates to help!
Everyone please remember this: Exceptional Children's Assistance Center
You can find all of a parents rights here - and even better, if a meeting is set with school officials, the ECAC (not a sport, but sometimes full body contact!)can arrange to have someone come with the parent to be sure that all of the parents concerns are understood, that the parent understands what the school personnel are suggesting.
No matter if your child is exceptionally bright or is having developmental issues, you have a right to speak for your child, and you have a right to be comfortable with the educational plan for your child. The website above has all kinds of information about NCLB, and other educational rules, etc. It is specific to North Carolina - so candidates, representatives, advocates, pay attention. People will be asking you for advice on everything. Send them here for help dealing with school systems and educational issues.
Back to your regularly scheduled blog. :)
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
__________________
"My darling girl, when will you understand that 'normal' is not necessarily a virtue. It rather denotes a lack of courage." - Alice Hoffma
Great comment LInda. Amen
As you well know parental involvement runs the gamut from complete apathy to wonderfully appropriate. Paents everywhere would do well to pay attention to your advice.
You might consider writing that up as it's own diary. And then cross post it like crazy.
Person County Democrats
Person County Democrats
It's in the file.
I'm kind of waiting for primary season to be over (here in NC) before I start posting stuff like this again. Graig and I are planning a series on education this summer - and I'm sure you'll have a lot to add to that, but you'll be busy with your campaign, too. :)
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
__________________
"My darling girl, when will you understand that 'normal' is not necessarily a virtue. It rather denotes a lack of courage." - Alice Hoffma
Yep. Probably wise to wait until the hoopla is over.
End of May - I'll be looking for it.
And I can well imagine that the campaign will slow down a bit during the summer doldrums. Well, one can always hope. I certainly understand the distaste that national level candidates have with non-stop campaigning, especially members of the HoR.
Person County Democrats
Person County Democrats
I agree
Linda
that should totally be its own post! Really well written and a message all parents need to hear.
~Levi
http://www.roycarterforcongress.com
Levi
I will certainly do it.
You might have been able to guess - this is a passion of mine. It's hard to balance the idealism of - "If only we had 1/10th of what they're spending on Iraq, we could fix it all!" and the realities of what the NC educational system is today. There are many good things happening, and there are many bad things happening. There are more organizations around that can assist.
So - by the end of May, ok?
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
__________________
"My darling girl, when will you understand that 'normal' is not necessarily a virtue. It rather denotes a lack of courage." - Alice Hoffma