Why? The 'Rats wrote it! The only liberal complaint about the "No Child Left With A Mind" program is that it "didn't go far enough". In fact, that it is the matra of all of the leftists who have nothing of substance against Bush's spending programs so essentially they are using the protest formula "If George spends $X billion, we will instantly complain that he should have spent $X+1 billion.
I spoke with conservative teachers who are facing this plan of stupidity from Washington. Nevermind the fact that this is federalizing a local issue (clearly the neo-cons no longer care for Jeffersonian strict constructionism), but what is happening is that the government is assuming that everyone is equally capable, and all of the previous idiotic programs have born no negative consequences. This is the pinnacle of government foolishness compounded by head-in-the-sand oblivion in that they pretend that illegal aliens still in ESL programs, years and years of dummied down education that emphasizes Look Say Reading, outcome based education, and other insults to common sense will magically disappear - the entire culture of Deweyism evaporates as soon as the ink on the law dries, and every single parent and guardian will automatically care about their children's education, that every bad teacher absorbed into the system and immersed in NEA anti-education tactics will instantly adopt and implement time proven teaching methods; and every child henceforth with pass all of their tests honestly; is the biggest crock of festering garbage I have smelled in a long time.
This same asinine program was adopted in Texas with the TAAS test, and it has been an utter failure. The teachers teach the test and little more. The entire year is spent being able to parrot a bunch of memorized answers sufficient so that the teacher and the school system can still get their grants and subsidies. What you are pleased as punch to see is a system where uncircumsised Philistines bureaucrats in Washington (probably soon to be made up exclusively of God-haters, queers, racists and Marxists) dictate what a "valid" education is. I suspect you imagine that these tests will remain apolitical. No more local control, every questionable program will be declared to be vital in complying with the dictates out of Washington. Then you have the wonderful tradition of grade inflation - only this time with a vengeance. No longer will grades mean anything, it is nothing more than an exercise in cooking the books since MONEY is (and always has been) the focus, not the education of the little reprobates.
But I believe the whole conservative ideology has been lost on people like you, for now you are apologizing for the existance of Jimmy Carter's socialist time bomb (DoEd began its wretched life in May 4, 1980) and think nothing about the reason for its being. Reagan wanted to kill the DoEd - you are praising and worshipping Bush for not only maintaining it, but by all accounts expanding its budget more than any other president since the prorgam's inception
I thank you for patiently revealing the new Republican Party, one that differs in no way whatsoever from the Socialist or the recent Demoncat party.
Every day, in every way, the John Birchers are being proven right.
I don't recall discussing ESL previously with you, yet you bring this up. I don't recall coming close to stating that I'm in favor of ESL, or federalized education. I do recall stating that federalized education has long-existed and discussing what Bush wants to do with the standardized testing...I do recall stating I don't agree with all of what he passed relating to the Education Bill; I do recall stating that he wants to enable parents, via vouchers, to place their children in whatever schools they choose, and something which the Rats oppose...something you didn't address.
What you are pleased as punch to see is a system where uncircumsised Philistines bureaucrats in Washington...
You are spinning. I never, once, indicated I was "pleased as punch" about anything with what's going on in education in the public schools.
But I believe the whole conservative ideology has been lost on people like you, for now you are apologizing for the existance of Jimmy Carter's socialist time bomb ...
People like me aren't now apologizing for Jimmy Carter. People like me never liked him to start with. Sorry to pop your baloon.
I thank you for patiently revealing the new Republican Party, one that differs in no way whatsoever from the Socialist or the recent Demoncat party.
You're a joke. Voting for Kerry/not voting for Bush, is the way to ensure that people like you get your socialist man, Kerry, in the White House, who will appoint liberal judges, create bigger goverment, raise taxes, spend more on more socialist programs...oh, yeah, that's how this whole "discussion" started.
I'm married to one.
The teachers teach the test and little more. The entire year is spent being able to parrot a bunch of memorized answers sufficient so that the teacher and the school system can still get their grants and subsidies.
It's worse than that. I've even heard of kids being shown the answers to the test immediately prior to "taking" the test, with the teacher (no, not my wife!) going over the anwers one by one to make sure they know what they're to remember.
"No Child Left Behind" is a travesty -- a sick joke.