Posted on 04/19/2005 8:40:42 AM PDT by billorites
My wife is a teacher in TX. She would be the first to tell you we need accountablity, but the No Child Leave Behind (or as her fellow teachers call it every child takes it in the behind.) is not the answer. The are forced to teach the test not the subject. She tries to give as much more as she can, but it is difficult.
This is one of the good points about the Federal form of government.
In the UK, for example, if Parliament passes an impractical law, that's it.
Connecticut has announced it's suing the US Department of Education, claiming the law mandates changes without giving the funding to carry them out. The education commissioner in Texas unilaterally decided Washington's requirements were flawed, and she simply disregarded part of them - a kind of civil disobedience.
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I had someone recently comment that the liberals are not the problem in our government school system --- well, I was polite, but...the leftist school system is trying everything it can to put down the one move that would make them clean up their tragically flawed system -- from gross incompetence (protected) to corruption of education funds, the left is milking the education system, and killing the minds of our kids at the same time, again to keep the utopian bubble that is liberal-driven, outcome-based education alive and well protected for these maggots.
It has been PROVEN time and time again, that money is not the issue, although that is the primary cop-out of the leftist "educators" (indoctrinators). Then, as above, we have the plain old typical leftist LAWBREAKERS that just tell the government to go screw itself -- ala San Francisco government style.
The left is an abomination upon this country. The people had better start getting involved with the education of their kids THAT THEY ARE PAYING DEARLY FOR, in more ways than one...the kids ultimately are coming up short-changed and poorly educated, not even ready for college in a tragically large number. The Midas touch of the left.
How about no mandates, no money, no fed in education.
Ah, yes. More money...that'll solve it!
If they were properly teaching the subject, they would pass the test. That is just the point: They are not properly teaching the subject.
Schools are giving their kids double doses of math and reading, no recess, test preparation (even on Saturdays), art and music after school if at all, no PE, fewer foreign languages because "those subjects aren't being tested," telling students who ask questions in class to not worry about the answers because "they won't be on the test." Sounds like a fun day, designed to foster a love of learning for sure.
It's come to this because the public schools have done miserably in just teaching the basics.
Can the states forego the federal funds and go back to mediocrity?
Not to mention the EXTREME STRESS they put on our kids about the importance of the test.
It's bad enough to tell kids they will be left back, but there have been some instances where teachers/school officials have actually said to kids "the school will close down, we'll lose our jobs, and no one will want to move here." Totally unwarranted. If I had a son or daughter in such a school system, they'd be out of there in a flash.
Stupid Bush education plan. States should stand up for their rights and refuse to accept federal tyrannies. Actually, they should all pass charter school legislation that lets parents spend the money the govenment spends anyway on their child on a school of their choice.
>>Utah is putting at risk $120 million it receives in federal education aid.<<
What? That would mean they would actually go back to the 3 R's!
The MinuteMan Program has awakened State officials to the idea of standing up to the FEDS! HURRAH! HURRAH! HURRAH!
Let's hope so!
Unless you're like the people in my town. We only have one high school, and it didn't pass the No Child Left Behind Act standards. The parents options are 1) send the child to a failing school and hope for the best 2) homeschool, or 3) send to a private school. The nearest private school is 20 miles away and costs more to go there than a year at my state university did.
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