Sorry, but neither you or anyone else is going to convince me that NCLB is not a BAD idea. I know too much about it and I’ve seen too much. And every single teacher I’ve talked to, and I am friends with a dozen and know 3-4 more, most of them Republicans, say it’s a joke.
One of the main points here is that it is perfectly possible to teach the core subjects without being bound to a particular, rigid set of curricula and a particular, rigid set of federal-mandated tests. No one is arguing that these skills aren’t important. But a fed-controlled NCLB program isn’t the way.
We just disagree. I think the kids, especially minority kids, do better with the test at acquiring the basic skills for economic survival in our country.
I also think that teachers are a clique, mostly made up of women who are uncomfortable being out of sync with their colleagues; and I have seen Christian women go along with their anti-religion, pro-liberal colleagues due to the pressures of wanting to get along.
So, I figure you as a newbie, and I as a FReeper, should just go our separate ways.