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Summit speakers want to ax Bush's education act

Teachers, parents, students and school district officials at an education summit convened by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords urged Congress to scrap or drastically change the No Child Left Behind Act when it expires later this year.
1. Comment by Harry D. (Dog Dude (Blue heeler)) — March 11,2007 @ 6:08AM
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But speakers at Giffords' forum, held Saturday in the Little Theater at Rincon High School, said the emphasis on measuring achievement and identifying "failing" schools is adversely affecting the classrooms where they teach or learn.

Oh, so holding schools and teachers responsible for educating your children is "adversely affecting the classrooms where they teach"?

Good, the bad schools need to be "adversely affected".

What a concept, holding schools and teachers that don't teach responsible for their failings.

If a school is doing a good job it has nothing to fear from testing, it's the bad schools and bad teachers who fear testing.

Of course the Teachers Unions want to protect teachers from having to actually teach rather then simply babysit which is a lot easer.

Funny how Democrats are pushing for more visas for highly trained and skilled workers at the same time that they oppose holding schools to a higher standard.

If our schools were really teaching we would not need to import better educated workers from places like India.

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2. Comment by Joan T. (roaxle) — March 11,2007 @ 6:43AM
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Harry,
I suspect you know not whereof you speak. When was the last time you were actually in a classroom?

The intent of NCLB was good; unfortunately, it is a prime example of the law of unintended consequences.

Listen to the voice of wisdom, the 8th grader who said:

...the federal mandate to test and prove progress has narrowed his education by placing emphasis on passing tests in reading, writing and math. "I'm getting good grades on the test," he said, "but what else am I learning?"

Reform NCLB or kiss public education goodbye.

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3. Comment by Michael B. (#1967) — March 11,2007 @ 7:23AM
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This isn't news - this was a union rally. Of the 100, how many were: a) Democrats, b) Paid union members or relatives of union members?

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4. Comment by Harry D. (Dog Dude (Blue heeler)) — March 11,2007 @ 7:38AM
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How funny Joan 2, you quoit an 8th grader who does not like having to take a test to see if he has learned anything, as a reasoned source of why "no tests" should be policy.

Tests in schools are like quality inspectors at manufacturing plants..

Are you also against quality inspectors at aircraft plants Joan?

Only the bad schools and bad teachers need fear tests.

When liberals say "teaching to the tests", they mean not teaching warm fuzzy liberal garbage which is why they hate testing.

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5. Comment by Joan T. (roaxle) — March 11,2007 @ 7:59AM
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Harry, I have no problem with students being evaluated, and with using the results to see where emphasis needs to be. Every good teacher does this on an ongoing basis, adjusting instruction as necessary to meet the needs of the students.

The problem comes in the execution. What is happening now is rote learning, with little opportunity for critical thinking or enrichment. I think at some point the public will realize what a mistake this was, that "frills" like music and art were a valuable part of the curriculum.

People who are not in the classroom don't seem to get it: we don't teach subjects, we teach children.

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6. Comment by Joan T. (roaxle) — March 11,2007 @ 8:26AM
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From an article about the independent commission report

...critics like Cochran say emphasizing standardized tests encourages teachers to focus on skills that are ultimately not very useful to students.

"The tests are supposed to measure how good you would do in college, and I don’t see how," said Cochran, who is a member of By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), a civil rights coalition that works to defend affirmative action and immigrant rights. "For instance... [in a lesson] on the English section of the test, there was this whole section on where you have to place semicolons in sentences. I don’t see how learning about where you place semicolons is going to help you better prepare yourself for college."

Cochran said he would like to see his classes focus more on developing critical thinking skills and helping individual students figure out what learning techniques work best for them.

Another BAMN member, Christopher Sutton, a senior at Murray Wright High School in Detroit, said he notices teachers becoming dispirited and showing less creativity in their teaching when they are preparing students for a standardized test: "It’s like, ‘Okay, you all know what this is, you already know what we’re preparing for, it’s boring, I know, I’m sorry, but I have to go over this information because it’s mandated by the district.’"

There are many problems with public education; unfortunately, NCLB addresses only one of them, and does it in a destructive manner. It provides for testing, but does little to fund remediation.

I suspect the end result of NCLB will be a two-tier school system in which those students who can't cut it are, not just left behind, but abandoned altogether.

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7. Comment by chuck g. (One big boo for Bush) — March 11,2007 @ 8:44AM
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"No child left behind" should be a policy directed at parents, not tax payers' support for schools.

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8. Comment by Jonathan U. (#5214) — March 11,2007 @ 10:26AM
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You can teach, but you can't make a child learn. You need to want to learn. Teachers should only be responsible to teach the state standards but that is it. NCLB is the personification of all that is wrong with this country. As a child I went to a school that according to NCLB would have been labeled failing and yet I attended University on academic scholarship and graduated with honors. This occurred because I knew that it was my responsibility to learn. In addition, I took into account my teachers and my parents gave me a swift kick in my rear when the occasion called for it. At what point does the individual take responsibility for his or her actions. Lastly, I would like see the politicians (Bush, McCain, Kennedy, etc.) that voted for NCLB come and teach and be held accountable to it. Of course this will not happen because it is not convenient for leadership to lead by example.

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9. Comment by Jonathan U. (#5214) — March 11,2007 @ 10:41AM
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Are the NEA, and politicians (Republicans and Democrats) really doing what is appropriate for the children of America? For that matter are they doing what is appropriate for the citizens of this great country? I think that if you look at past history as well as recent history and the answer will be an unequivocal no.

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10. Comment by Dan A. (dra1547) — March 11,2007 @ 10:57AM
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Imagine that! Actually listening to what students, teachers and parents have to say about making public education better!?
This woman is obviously mentally incompetent and should be removed from office and given a padded cell to contemplate the error of her ways.

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11. Comment by Joan T. (roaxle) — March 11,2007 @ 11:19AM
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re: 10. Comment by Dan A. (dra1547)

I assume you were being sarcastic...?

I find it interesting that conservatives, who are so into the concept of personal responsibility, do not extend that to students and their parents when it comes to learning. Jonathan is absolutely right: you can lead a kid to the classroom, but you can't make him learn.

I wish those who were so quick to point out the failures in education would spend some time in a classroom before they pontificate.

However, I suspect part of the purpose of NCLB is to end public education as we know it. Conservatives like to privatize everything. That's their mantra: there is nothing the public sector can do that the private sector can't do better (and at a handsome profit).

I almost hate to point out how well that worked for Walter Reed.

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12. Comment by Jonathan U. (#5214) — March 11,2007 @ 11:34AM
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Thanks Joan for your most recent post. I got a good laugh after I read it. The thoughts that you conveyed are the same ones that I have conveyed in the past. Conservatives talk about personal responsibility until it goes against their hidden agenda. Again, all I ask for is leadership that is willing to lead by example.

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13. Comment by Bill B. (#5217) — March 11,2007 @ 11:55AM
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Whenever I get on these boards, all I hear is Bush bashing! How come Bush did everything wrong, but somehow or someway he got NCLB right????
By definition alone, if testing is the criteria for "inspection" there has to be a number of failures or the testing will be determined to be too easy. Now that may work well in airline manufacturing plants, but is devastating in a school setting. Testing proves nothing but that the student passed a test. The current direction in education is simply pass the test... art, social studies, science, consumer math skills, physical education, shop, home economics, drama, music...all out the window...sacrificed at the altar of NCLB. To compare this to industrial testing, it is like building the best airplane cabin in the business...comfy seats, leg room, Direct-TV...just no engines. Schools are building the cabins...test scores are rising slightly with the exception of areas heavily populated with illegals...but the schools have no engine.
NCLB was a monster mistake...politicians and lawyers once again sticking their noses in where they have no expertise, ability or understanding. NCLB was the arrogance of politicians who think they know and can solve every problem...but in reality this is just anouther bureaucratic bungling in an effort to destroy public education.
Now watch...our airheaded Congresswoman will attend a meeting such as this...then vote to renew this idiotic law for another 5 years.
Yes, Bush has missed a lot during this presidency...but NCLB was his worst.

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14. Comment by Liz T. (Nickname) — March 11,2007 @ 12:12PM
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The eloquent eight-grader comes from an extremely highly performing charter school which only admits the cream of the crop. Ironically, he is probably right that he would learn way more in this environment if he didn't have to be bothered with AIMS. For the rest of the kids (say in TUSD), they have to really go the extra mile to get what they need. But that road is paved with teachers who care and who make themselves available for the benefit of their students. If a student is not succeeding s/he is either not interested or the teacher goes home at 3PM on the dot.

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15. Comment by Dan A. (dra1547) — March 11,2007 @ 12:18PM
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Joan & Jonathan; Of course I was being sarcastic, something I admit I don't do well.
I think you both have hit on an important part of the puzzle; there is definitely a very strong correlation between parental support and student achievement. The other side of the coin though is; What can the teacher do with students who refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions and are enabled by their parents? Many students who are failing or have failed in the past want to blame the teacher, the school, the government, the NEA, the mailman, Fred Flintstone etc. ad nauseum, so long as it's anybody but themselves. Apples never fall far from the tree.
This is a very complex issue so beware of people offering simplistic answers, like NCLB for example. Here is a very enlightening article about the current state of public education in the US:
http://www.edutopia.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id=Art_1798&issue=mar_07
And Joan I think you are confusing the people who call themselves "Conservatives" today with traditional Republicans, they are really radical statists. Traditional Republicans beleive(ed , Are there any left?) in keeping government small and would leave education to the professionals.

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16. Comment by Joan T. (roaxle) — March 11,2007 @ 12:48PM
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#13. Bill B. (#5217) says:

Whenever I get on these boards, all I hear is Bush bashing! How come Bush did everything wrong, but somehow or someway he got NCLB right????

Are you and I reading the same posts? The only people here supporting NCLB are Harry D ('nuff said) and Michael B (who, if memory serves me, is homeschooling his children because he believes teachers are the devil incarnate).

NCLB is an attempt to apply a simplistic solution to a complex problem.

And Dan A. (dra1547), if there are any traditional Republicans left, my guess is they are not in the Republican party anymore. I know a couple who have re-registered as Independents.

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17. Comment by Michael B. (#1967) — March 11,2007 @ 2:19PM
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Slight correction Joan #16, I believe the Teachers' Union is the devil incarnate, not the teachers.

And a point about Republicans, it is the liberals in that party (termed 'Moderates') who have left/leaving the party and that is a good thing. Notice they go to Independents, not Democrats?

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18. Comment by francis w. (#6565) — March 11,2007 @ 3:04PM
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#2. Millions of families kissed public education goodbye long ago, but they're still paying taxes to support it. Monopolies have no incentive to improve and public education is a government (taxpayer) supported monopoly providing jobs for the teachers unions in exchange for their support in electing socialists to run our country.
NCLB was authored by Sen Kennedy and cosponsored by Sen McCain and was widely lauded by all until the fine print, which tied strings of responsibility to the billions of dollars going into the program, was read.

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19. Comment by Joan T. (roaxle) — March 11,2007 @ 4:45PM
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Dan A. Thanks for the link.

Education at Risk

When it comes to schools, one side says, "Start with the student. Ask what motivates kids, what blocks them, what gets them to muster their own best learning resources." The other approach says, "Never mind each particular student's wants and needs; post the curricula, test all students, and punish those who fail."

Very enlightening.

The neocons have done a great job of co-opting the language. I wonder how long they will be able to continue convincing people that up is down.

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20. Comment by Joan T. (roaxle) — March 11,2007 @ 4:49PM
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Probably too late for anyone to read this:

Today, essentially three currents of education reform compete with each other. One sees inspiration and motivation as the keys to better education. Reform in this direction starts by asking, "What will draw the best minds of our generation into teaching? What will spark great teachers to go beyond the minimum? What will motivate kids to learn and keep coming back to school?

In this direction lie proposals for building schools around learners, gearing instruction to individual goals and learning styles, pointing education toward developing an ever-broader range of human capacities, and phasing in assessment tools that get at ever-subtler nuances of achievement. Overall, this approach promotes creative diversity as a social good.

A second current, the dominant one, sees discipline and structure as the keys to school improvement. Reform in this direction starts by asking, "What does the country need, what must all kids know to serve those needs, and how can we enforce the necessary learning?" In this direction, the curriculum comes first, schools are built around the curriculum, and students are required to fit themselves into a given structure, controlled from above. As a social good, it promotes national unity and strength. This is the road we're on now with NCLB.

A third possible direction goes back to diversity and individualism -- through privatization, including such mechanisms as tuition tax credits, vouchers (enabling students to opt out of the public school system), and home schooling. Proponents include well-funded private groups such as the Cato Institute that frankly promote a freeenterprise model for schooling: Anyone who wants education should pay for it and should have the right to buy whatever educational product he or she desires.

What's Next?

Don't be shocked if NCLB ends up channeling American education into that third current, even though it seems like part of the mainstream get-tough approach. Educational researcher Gerald Bracey, author of Reading Educational Research: How to Avoid Getting Statistically Snookered, writes in Stanford magazine that "NCLB aims to shrink the public sector, transfer large sums of public money to the private sector, weaken or destroy two Democratic power bases -- the teachers' unions -- and provide vouchers to let students attend private schools at public expense."

Why? Because NCLB is set up to label most American public schools as failures in the next six or seven years. Once a school flunks, this legislation sets parents free to send their children to a school deemed successful. But herds of students moving from failed schools to (fewer) successful ones are likely to sink the latter. And then what? Then, says NCLB, the state takes over.

And there's the rub. Can "the state" -- that is, bureaucrats -- run schools better than professional educators? What if they fail, too? What's plan C?

NCLB does not specify plan C. Apparently, that decision will be made when the time comes. But with some $500 billion per year -- the sum total of all our K-12 education spending in this country -- at stake, and with politicians' hands on all the levers, you can be pretty certain the decision will not be made by those whose field of expertise is learning. It will be made by those whose field of expertise is power.

From Education at Risk

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21. Comment by Scott B. (scoot) — March 11,2007 @ 8:31PM
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If he really wants NCLB to succeed, W will request more funding for it. His 2006 request was slightly over 50%. Every 10 weeks in Iraq, the US is spending what would fund NCLB for 52 weeks. As long as our priorities are out of whack, the results will be too.

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22. Comment by francis w. (#6565) — March 11,2007 @ 8:57PM
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Right. MOre money is the answer to public educations problems like cheap gas is the answer to global warming.

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23. Comment by Scott B. (scoot) — March 11,2007 @ 11:02PM
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Of course. More money only helps causes like Iraqi democracy and alaskan bridges to nowhere

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