"No Child" leaves children behind

[MJZiggy]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...d=opinionsbox1

Many knew that No Child Left Behind wouldn't work. Now they think they know why. It's an interesting concept. Thought our teachers and parents might find it worth reading.

[LL2]

It's another Clinton liberal lefty idea that didn't work. The name of the bill has a warm and fuzzy feeling to it, but the gov't doesn't know how to solve things. It's parents responsibilities to make sure their kids know how to read, write and have math skills. My son is only 2 and we have been working with him on basics like numbers, alphabet, colors, shapes, etc. I want my kids to go to good schools, but to think the schools will be an end all solution to my kids education needs is naive.

Now, the other Clinton wants a national health care solution that will fail miserably. While it sounds like a great idea, and warm and fuzzy like "No Child Left Behind," it will cost the gov't and businesses billions yet fail.

[MJZiggy]

No child left behind was Bush's invention. He campaigned on education reform and then gave us this turd which infuriated educators and parents alike.

[Scott Campbell]

I like the concept of vouchers.

[SkinBasket]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...d=opinionsbox1

Many knew that No Child Left Behind wouldn't work. Now they think they know why. It's an interesting concept. Thought our teachers and parents might find it worth reading.

It's not really that interesting since it's an opinion piece that doesn't back up any of the numerous assumptions he makes for the purpose of his opinion.

Yeah, there's problems with the program, just like there's problems with any huge government run program. Pulling out one set of numbers as an example of how the whole program is a failure is disingenuous.

[MJZiggy]

I was thinking about this the other day and it occurred to me that docking the schools needed cash for lack of performance was doing it backwards. Instead, I think they should be rewarding the teachers (notice I said the teachers and not the school) for improvements in the rates of college admissions for academically struggling areas. Maybe give the teachers the flexibility to decide how to best inspire their classes within the outline of the curricula. They know improvement means an extra 5K in their pocket at the end of the year, maybe they will be inspired all the way down to the elementary level to teach and expect excellence from their students like they do in the richer schools.

[red]

yep, this was a bush righty idea that didn't work like every other one of his ideas

there is no money for schools, we have to continue our un-winable war against the terrorists

[SkinBasket]

there is no money for schools, we have to continue our un-winable war against the terrorists

Yeah, there was only $24 billion and change spent on NCLB in 2007, a 40% increase since 2001 and $54 billion on education discretionary spending, up 30% from 2001.

No money for schools at all.

[packinpatland]

In my mind there are two problems. One, there's a probem. Two, there's a problem with how to fix the problem.

[SkinBasket]

In my mind there are two problems. One, there's a probem. Two, there's a problem with how to fix the problem.

And three, there may not be a way to fix number one given the nature of public education. Sure, you can try to make it better, but you can't fix every kid, especially when an increasing number of families think that fixing kids is the school's job, not the parents'.

[Freak Out]

there is no money for schools, we have to continue our un-winable war against the terrorists

Yeah, there was only $24 billion and change spent on NCLB in 2007, a 40% increase since 2001 and $54 billion on education discretionary spending, up 30% from 2001.

No money for schools at all.

Chump change. I'm not joking either. Our entire public system needs reform and money is going to be a problem because what is needed cannot just come from a local level. My other experience with a public school system was in Germany and children have much less of a chance to be "left behind" there than here. There are options and paths there that are open for the student that just do not exist here....because of money. But the American people need to make the choice what they want to fund. I think we all know what the answer will be.

[RashanGary]

All kids aren't created equal either. The idea that they're all going to be on the same level is rediculous.



Taking it a step further, I think it's safe to say most doctors, lawyers, top engineers, architects and many successfull buisness people are smarter than the average American (because they made it through law school or med school or whatever else and it weeds out people who can't do it). They end up having more money (on average) and living in certain little areas (more than others). Then they pass their genetic makeup onto their kids (along with some of the lifestyle that allowed them to succeed when many fail). Ultimately, you have a whole school that reflects the neighborhoods tendancys.

And I'm not saying there aren't many absolutley BRILLIANT people who don't have a high level of education (or the financial stability that often comes with it), but I'll bet you get a disproportionate number of idiots in some schools and intelligent kids in others.

My point; some of this might be able to be explained by the differences in people combined with the birds of a feather theory.

[MJZiggy]

That's actually part of the point. If you can't fix every kid, why hold all of 'em back in the attempt to fix 'em all? A little differentiated learning without a stupid massive government test that tosses the whole school into a tizzy every couple weeks might go a long way.

[RashanGary]

That's actually part of the point. If you can't fix every kid, why hold all of 'em back in the attempt to fix 'em all? A little differentiated learning without a stupid massive government test that tosses the whole school into a tizzy every couple weeks might go a long way.

Good point.

[packinpatland]

Or you could do what the grade school my daughter went to. She, being special needs, didn't take any of the tests. At the time, we were told 'you really don't want to put her through that...' What they were really saying is...she'll lower our test scores.

I don't know what other states do but, here in CT, we get a % of slot revenue from the Indian casinos. On average it's between 17-20 million a month, that money was originally earmarked for education......

[MJZiggy]

I wish they would do that here. We have a DHOH program here and they test those kids and the rest of them have to make up the difference.

[Harlan Huckleby]

It's another Clinton liberal lefty idea that didn't work. .... Now, the other Clinton wants a national health care solution that will fail miserably. While it sounds like a great idea, and warm and fuzzy like "No Child Left Behind," it will cost the gov't and businesses billions yet fail.

You didn't know that NCLB was a Republican idea. And then your comment on health care suggests you have not a clue what the Democrats are proposing with healthcare.

There are going to be changes in health care. If you think the current system is OK, you have your head in the sand. Whatever the Democrats get through is likely to be a modest experiment, more change will be needed.

[RashanGary]

I don't know, HH. Barack is starting to look like an unstoppable force and they say the democratic majority is going to expand in the house and senate.

Something might acctually get done in the next presidential term. Will it be for the better? I don't know, but there is a good chance that there is a major shake up in health care.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I like the concept of vouchers.

There is nothing wrong with vouchers in principle, I don't mind blending this option in. I question whether the people who support vouchers have a commitment to improving public education. If we give up on public schools, it will lead to even more drastic inequality in opportunity.

[MJZiggy]

It's another Clinton liberal lefty idea that didn't work. .... Now, the other Clinton wants a national health care solution that will fail miserably. While it sounds like a great idea, and warm and fuzzy like "No Child Left Behind," it will cost the gov't and businesses billions yet fail.

You didn't know that NCLB was a Republican idea. And then your comment on health care suggests you have not a clue what the Democrats are proposing with healthcare.

There are going to be changes in health care. If you think the current system is OK, you have your head in the sand. Whatever the Democrats get through is likely to be a modest experiment, more change will be needed.

I wish Bush would have said that about NCLB...