No Child Left Bahinf

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | February 5, 2004 | Ronnie Lynn

[leprechaun9]

Opposition to President Bush's No Child Left Behind education law is gaining traction, and Republicans -- even in GOP strongholds such as Utah -- are among those digging in deepest. .....

[88keys]

Well, I must just say I do not know much about "No Child Left Bahinf", but if it's causing a universal teachers' rebellion rather than just perturbing those horrid liberal socialist thugs that run the unions, then something's obviously amiss.

What is it? Who is actually responsible for "interpreting" and "enforcing" (so to speak) the "laws" that were passed? Is it a district-by-district problem, or is the whole "program" flawed? Is there not enough, or too much "local control"?? (not every district is run the same way, and sometimes the local school boards are just abominable...)

Certainly expecting 3rd graders to read doesn't seem unreasonable, and how would you know whether they could if you never gave them a test? Like-wise doing Math...both "skills" require "learning" in order to apply "reason", so simply memorizing a list of facts and "teaching to the test" is not going to do it, right?

This from the article seems peculiar:

Dayton and Utah Republican leaders have taken the unusual step of refusing to discuss HB43 publicly until after their meeting Friday with federal officials. Dayton has said the law's federal intrusion, unrealistic expectations and potential drain on state school funds prompted her to sponsor the legislation.

Sounds like despite the current brouhaha, they're not quite sure of their facts yet? And this makes me instantly suspicious:

Congress passed the law with bipartisan support in 2001, but many Democrats -- including presidential candidates John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina -- have softened their endorsements after seeing how the law has affected schools. Both say schools need more federal funding to carry out the mandates.

I wouldn't go to those two for advice...are they coincidentally right on this issue, or are they simply doing their best to exploit a certain lack of understanding about the President's education plan and incite dissatisfaction and anger with Bush?! Why is it that with all the good teachers out there, their unions always endorse the Democrat party line? "No Child..." notwithstanding, I don't trust those people...

[HELLRAISER II]

Perhaps you are correct, i'm not a teacher and I only know what my wife tells me. But I also know that sometimes changes like this come in stages and if you listen to @ssholes like John F-ing Kerry the South is not important to the Yankee lawmakers therefore the South always comes last, so it also a possibility that the changes just haven't taken effect here yet.

[HELLRAISER II]

I agree.

[HELLRAISER II]

My understanding is that they are grouped in 1 group and it's pass or fail, however as a man it is a possibility that I didn't hear everything my wife said. We do have a gift or curse of hearing what we want to here or maybe it's just a limited amount that I heard. But you are right, I don't think it's worth the money and time that it has cost.

[HELLRAISER II]

The problem is that the Administrators and Principals don't have any balls, as a matter of fact my wife's school had a faculty meeting yesterday and one of the teachers got pissed and told the Principal that he was and I quote "A Chicken $hit" which is the absolute truth, but it doesn't mean anythings going to change. What they should do is just what you said, use the attorney and protect the schools interest and integrity but as you probably already know. Most of them are just as my wifes fellow teacher said "Chicken $hits".

[HELLRAISER II]

You should judge them both if they are both at fault, but like I said in an earlier post. How you can teach them if they can't read & write? How you can teach them if they won't do their homework and the kids parents won't make them? As a matter of fact they come in and tell you they didn't do it and they still better pass the class or else. You're right that you should most definately judge the student & parents, but sometimes the teacher can only teach if the student is willing to learn.

[HELLRAISER II]

What some people don't understand is how cruel children can be, the kids will ridicule those who are mentally incompetent, it's just a fact. Not only that but it takes time away from the teachers to take care of and teach the ones who can actually learn. It's a bad idea, period!

[Xenalyte]

But y'know, in spite of it all, I'm still charmed by "bahinf."

[Copernicus]

Will someone please post a link to "President Bush's" No Child Left Behind Legislation?

When I posted a link to a .PDF file for HR 936 complete with some remarkable gun control language I was unable to read a single one of some 77 responses before it was pulled by an Anonymous Moderator because "it was not White House Legislation"

If any of you have "juice" with the high command of Free Republic, I would be grateful if you could illuminate this mystery.

Since I dasn't repost HR 936 I will direct any interested readers to http://thomas.loc.gov/ where they can read HR 936 (see Title XI for gun control section) for themselves with the search engine.

It is a legitimate bill in committee with a legitimate companion Senate Bill and if the history of "Campaign Finance Reform" is any guide, some version of this bill will be signed by George W.

Best regards,

[HELLRAISER II]

I know what you mean, but in his defense the keys D & F are right beside each other. It's easy to hit the post button and say oh crap, because you know you're going to catch hell over it.

[Redbob]

"Bahinf?

Persian Gulf state?"

It's where we get gasolinf for ours carfs.

[holdmuhbeer]

were you a child left behinf too?

[El Gato]

The biggest problem with the bill is that it attempts to apply the Texas system, built up of myriad small, and a few not so small changes, over many years, to the rest of the coutnry all at once. Things don't work that way. People need time to adapt to changes, especiall those imposed from above. It has improved performance considerably in Texas. This opinion is from my wife, who is a teacher of teachers at a small college in Texas.

[SCalGal]

However what they don't tell you is that even special ed students & foreign kids who don't even speak English are also used in the percentages and that is not fair.

This is absolutely true. The schools are judged by their overall scores, and these include all special ed classes.

My autistic students scribble on the test or play connect-the-bubble on the answer form. Even the two who are able to do the problems in the test can't manage the test format so they get zeros.

[SCalGal]

Now I'm worried I'll get the riot act.

Give him the riot act! How dare he question your child's illnesses! All children do NOT go to the doctor every time they are sick; maybe the principal lacks the good sense to read a thermometer, but you don't.

[HELLRAISER II]

I think that on the surface it's a great idea, but it has to be tweaked to make it reasonable & fair to the teachers as well as the students. I'll give him an A for effort/intent but I would have to give it a D- for actual application.

[HELLRAISER II]

That's exactly what my wife told me although someone here argued that it was not the way it worked. I think you should test and then judge the students that are capable of actually passing the test with correct teaching. But you can't test someone when their best accomplishment in life will being able to fix a bowl of ceral without spilling the milk and making a mess.

[SCalGal]

Two of my six students could pass the test if I were allowed to administer it differently. But, because I can't do anything except read the questions to them, they fail. One little guy just has a problem focusing - he knows the answers; he simply can't focus on the question long enough to answer them.

So, we continue to lower the overall scores.