Are School Administrations Nationwide Trying to Hurt George Bush?

06.17.04 | mlmr

[mlmr]

I have four children in three different schools. In the past week I have talked to a number of teachers and administrators about different issues pertaining to next semester. I have been told three times so far that the school cannot manage A or B anymore becasue Individual Student Goals(or whatever the technical name is) cannot be honored because of the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT. One called it Bush's NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. Tell me, is this a national trend? Those of you with children in public schools, are you hearing that the Bush plan is hurting your child? Or otherss?

[SoftballMominVA]

Why cant they interact with their peers in daycare?

They have the right to interact with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent possible.

[fightu4it]

These people do not want any independant testing of their students. Much the same as my local public school corporation does not want an independant audit of it's finances, and because of a spinless State Legislature, they do not have an independant audit of their finances.

These people have forgotten who they work for and who is paying the bills.

[SoftballMominVA]

Yes, I understand that the theory is that everyone can learn something. But to what avail? I know teachers who are trying to teach history to youngsters who cannot manage to write their names. They try to meet small, hopefully achieveable goals. For what except to make the system feel good?

Well the Germans solved this problem quite handily by euthanizing the mentally retarded. All they had to pay for was the shot that killed them. Much, much cheaper.

[doug from upland]

I've helped a few teachers do it.

Help can be found at EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION. Tell Marsha that Doug from Upland sent you. :)

[mlmr]

But you forget that we are already paying for this sort of service in home care attendants, special nursing visits and other services. Moving these children into day care settings would be cost effective in many ways.

[arjay]

What you are talking about is warehousing, and that helps practically no one. Many low functioning kids can learn and need to be taught.

I think you would change your mind if it were one of your children.

The special ed children should be left out of the testing, however. My wife teaches special ed and is having to have kids that function on a 1st grade level tested on a 4th or 5th grade level when they cannot even read. That is ridiculous.

Some of the problems in the No Child Left Behind program is that states have to interpret it and they make many of their own rules to comply. They seem to make up rules that enable them to bash the program itself.

BTW, she is a rabid Bush fan even though she has to be in the NEA for insurance purposes.

[mlmr]

is hurting children, because it "makes children drill, which is bad for children".


Who knows, perhaps they will hit oil!
bad small joke

[SoftballMominVA]

But you forget that we are already paying for this sort of service in home care attendants, special nursing visits and other services. Moving these children into day care settings would be cost effective in many ways.

Actually the bulk of those services go to the adults out of school and the elderly, and of course, the very, very young.

And no, I didn't forget it at all. But I was addressing the area I am most familiar--school-based instruction.

[ArmyBratproud]

Look, I come from a family of public servants...mutilated, law enforcement, teachers, firefighters,nurses, etc. First of all, let me commend you for staying involved with your youngster's schooling. You will need to do this a lot. It is the only way you can ensure that your child is getting a good education and not govt. funded insanity. What your hearing is just a new name to an old tune. In my free time I actually substitute teach in a school district that requires me, due the fact that I actually work as a teacher when I am there, to have a degree and attend quite a bit of training. I actually have to help students learn when I am there...which is a good way to make sure you have quality substitutes(Let me suggest that if you have free time, check the requirements for Substitutes in your child's district. Some just require a high school diploma, some more. You may want to substitute teach...its rewarding and it is an ideal way to keep an eye on what is really going on in your district). So trust me when I tell you that what you are hearing is garbage that is pumped out of brochures from teacher associations and unions. (Think NEA...in some states...they have chapters by a different name...very sneaky). Trust me, I have read them. The thing is...what they are saying is completely untrue. Thanks to No Child Left Behind...there are actually millions of dollars still sitting there that have not even been used yet. Bush has actually increased educational spending at a larger rate. This is where he and I disagree. Throwing money at schools has been historical in doing nothing. There is enough money there. I check posts on another web page that is full of teachers from around the country...and they have the same thoughts as I do.
On the other hand, thanks to Bush and No Child Left Behind, teachers are now actually being held accountable thanks to things like testing and auditing. This is where Bush has redeemed himself with me over throwing wasted money at schools. As I mentioned before, throwing more and more money at schools has done nothing. The reform is not needed in the financing. The reform is needed in the system itself. Hence the testing, audits, and holding teachers accountable. I work around some very experienced teachers, and this their view as well. Think of it this way. It should not cost an extra penny for me to help a youngster sound out a word or learn Government and Economics. A) That's my job...B) Most of it is in a textbook and teachers aid book, so it makes it even easier. C)I'm happy to do it. So don't buy into their line when they tell you something can't be done because of No Child Left Behind. The only reason something is not getting done is because they don't want to put in the effort! Remember, Bush actually pushed and got increased spending for schools. School districts manage their programs and money, not the President. School districts manage their programs and money, not the Sec. of Education. So if a school says they can't do something because of program schedules or finances...then you need to ask for new leadership in the school district. Because odds are your current leadership has not managed its resources very well. Either that, or they are just towing the NEA(DNC Outlet) party line. Which to me... shows a lack of integrity. Also, keep in mind that in every career field...there are people that gripe. Hang around a military district/base/inst. some and you will see what I mean. Sometimes it is warranted, and a lot of times it is not. I have a sibling that is a Fire Fighter and former soldier. I have a sibling that is a Police Officer. And they both would tell you the same thing about their fields. There are Fire Fighters nation wide who are angry that the director of their national association said that the entire membership endorses Kerry. Those endorsements came for chapter and district heads who want to stay in favor with Kerry's buddy. All of the fire fighters I know, and I am fortunate to know many, support G.W. Bush. And in the same aspect, let met make you feel better by informing you that Education/Teacher unions and associations speak only on behalf of their own political agenda (yes, political) and some who work in the education arena. THEY DO NOT SPEAK FOR US ALL!

[UnsinkableMollyBrown]

The NCLB Act is indeed an awful piece of legislation. My son is perfectly capable of self care, however, he is below grade level in math and reading. The school told him that he would have to take the Federal mandated test for 3rd grade, even though he had never been introduced to most of the material. Do you have any idea what that does to a child?!!! My son came home after the first day of testing, and said "Mom, I got all of the questions wrong. Please don't make me take it again." Needless to say, he was being homeschooled the next day.

The NCLB act is organized so that schools will fail. If a school fails two or three years in a row, the federal govn takes over the school. They fire the adminstrators of the school, and most of the teachers, and place their own people in. It really stinks to high heaven. Accountability?!! What a laugh. They have just discovered a way to federalize schools. Make all the kids, even those that are incapable take the standards test, and if the score isn't up to par, the locals lose control. You should study the act. It is no less than horrifying. And it was Bush that put his little John Henry on that line.

The NEA is a side issue. Don't get distracted, get the facts.

[GailA]

Remind them when they complain about NCLB that TEDDY KENNEDY WROTE it, and there was an 11% increase in ED funding in the bill. Search FR for NCLB and you will find a bunch of articles for ammo.

[SoftballMominVA]

The Commonwealth of Virginia will probably pull out of the NCLB and forfeit the Federal money. The SOL standards in VA are some of the highest in the nation and the little bit of $$ may not be worth the extra regs.

[mlmr]

We are already paying for this in additional teacher and aid salaries and specialized equipment. What training does one need for a severely handicapped child beyond basic care? I am aware of the violence that occurs now to handicapped children and adults. A monitered daycare setting or institution would provide no less oversight than what is occuring now.

[SoftballMominVA]

I see that happen all the time. Your son wasn't low enough to be in the exemptions. It's not fair to anyone.

[Sloth]

"clu" is missing the e

You are pretty dense.

[Clara Lou]

They fire the adminstrators of the school, and most of the teachers, and place their own people in.
No, they don't. The federal government doesn't send any teachers into a school district. The district itself moves it's own teachers around so that the failing campus has a different set of teachers. The administrators also get moved elsewhere in the district.

[SoftballMominVA]

Okay, I was playing along with you, because I really, really thought you were kidding me. I'm worried now that you are not. The joke has gone on long enough. It's starting to get morbid now.

[mlmr]

They have the right to interact with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent possible.


RIGHT??
Why? What significant difference does it make? Also families have churches and other venues besides the government to fill that gap.

[mlmr]

Sometimes I think that the RIGHTS have trumped common sense.

[arjay]

I agree. It is terribly frustrating for kids who just do not have the mental ability to take tests at their grade level.

It is amazing, however, to see what some children can accomplish even with their learning handicaps. It is a joy to see a child's eyes light up when they first see they can read a little or even recognize a letter of the alphabet.

I do not begrudge spending tax dollars to help these children. I DO begrudge spending tax dollars to support top heavy administrative staff who have nothing to do with teaching as well as the NEA itself. People need to differentiate between the NEA and the teachers. They are not the same thing.

I know many good and effective teachers who are doing the best they can in spite of the school administrative idiots who block good teaching at every turn.

We still need to remember that all the new teachers come out of teaching programs at universities that are staffed with died in the wool liberal educators. It is no wonder that we get so many liberals in the teaching professions.