Given the clarity that you, Ami, and Prince have provided Bt, regarding what NCLB does mandate, and how the States are allowed to do whatever it is they deem they need to do, I was wondering the same thing
Ok, guys, let me start over.
I sort of planted that statement in order to prove a point.
My point is a question.
Is the NCLB act truly at the heart of what has changed in this nation in terms of education, or is it truly the State's call?
If you look at the NCLB ACT, do you read anything that offers suggestions of how to teach a given subject(s)in order that all children make progress in all areas of academia?
Do you read anywhere in the act where teachers are encouraged to teach a child according to their expertise and training in how a child learns?
No, you see none of that.
As the State's responsibility, eventually you will read that there are mandates to use scripted, hot off the presses programs published by huge companies such as Houghton Mifflin and Harcourt Brace on the forefront that has come to be known as research based programs. These are our new college courses. . .our newest form of training.
Do you read anywhere in the act where the focus is on a well rounded education for all? No. Nor do you read anything about curriculum, per say. You read....rulings. expectations. What else is new? There have been expectations since the dawn of time in education.
You read that States must see to it that we see to it that kids can READ..and that's about it..oh and construct math. Nothing wrong with either.
Now, while I do not disagree with Ami's assessment of the NCLB act in scope, and detailing...I do wonder if anyone knows what it is like to have to teach a child to read NOW or yesterday. No in between.
I am here to ask you all .....have you been in a classroom setting in a public school in the last ten years?
The last five years?
The last one year?
I have seen so much in my years of teaching.
And only recently, have I seen that bi-lingual education has been taken AWAY from our own district in order to make sure we are not put on probation for not teaching every child to read!! period.
I have seen that science, social studies and art, music are no longer a part of OUR curriculum. I have read about many districts across the country that are in fear of losing critical subject areas of the curriculum.
I have a fear. I have a concern.
IS it the NCLB act?
Probably not, in the end.
But, who's at fault for this?
If you think it is it the individual State's problem, then WHY?
When did the individual states decide to stop teaching such areas of curriculum just to satisfy the NCLB act?
Ironically, since those restrictions have been put into place, there are fewer quality areas of curriculum being taught in the public schools, sad to say.
So, I really don't care if the debate ends up with the NCLB act being the good guy in all of this. I agree that we must never let a child be lost behind...left without care....kept from his/her right to learn IT ALL.
But, something is wrong. IF it is the State's problem, then that's a shame. I don't care. I'll fight for the child.
But, who is the parent in all of this mandate?
Is it the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND act?
Ami is a very, very intelligent man, btw. I will listen to him any day of the week. I trust him that much.
I want to know more. I want to know why?
Why can't we fix this problem?
AS I go back to work on Monday, and I am so excited to do so.....I will be on the front lines of a battle that is education. I will touch lives, educate to the best of my ability, and I will wonder what will be taken away from my students next?
