The No Child Left Behind Initiative in its early years was a wakeup call for educators and school systems to take responsibility for the education and success of K-12 students. Standards were high for school systems and some schools were closed. The coveted Level 5 Superior Rating School was the goal for all school systems to establish credibility in education. Concerted efforts were made by many inner city and rural schools to bring up test scores.
Unfortunately problems with NCLB have developed and the Initiative needs to be amended. Teachers have begun to be blamed for unsuccessful students, which is inherently not the fault of the teacher. Some schools which were historically part of the community have been closed leaving holes that cannot be restored. In many cases, NCLB has made many teachers more transient. Being associated with a poor school system has made teachers stop identifying themselves with schools. This unhealthy trend has made schools unstable and parents uneasy about who will be teaching their child. Do they know them? Do the teachers know the community?
If a parent is not involved in a child's education, a teacher has a very slim chance of making a difference. High stakes testing are an immense amount of stress on students, teachers, and parents. It seems as though the teachers are teaching the test, and preparing for the next test. This atmosphere creates a void and the student becomes an empty shell, just waiting for more data to be inputed into his computer-like brain. These reasons are why NCLB has to change.
One answer to this problem is the inclusion of the community in relieving the pressure of educating the student and meeting the standards that do not always work. For elementary and middle schools, the PTA (Parents and Teachers Association) needs to be the catalyst for change. The NAEP (The National Assessment of Educational Progress) is a national assessment used in some school systems, which is an effective way to chart progress in specific subject areas. Elementary and middle school PTAs should administer this test instead of the teachers. Let the teachers focus on the state testing. There are many other assessment tools similar to the NAEP, such as WorkKeyes Beginning Level Assessment, that could also be effective. With some educational guidance, the PTAs could choose an assessment tool and administer this assesssment instead of the teachers. Seeing community leaders participate in testing/assessments could help salvage the NCLB.
America has almost always had a two-party system, but the Democrats and Republicans aren't the only parties that shaped our country's history. Learn about other political parties that no longer exist. |
How much does the president make? While the president's salary is not anything to scoff at, and there are many perks, some might say the President of the United States is working for peanuts, even if he's not Jimmy Carter. |
Although famous women in politics faced many obstacles, they still made significant contributions to American life. Learn about some of the women who helped shape our nation's laws. |
What does GOP stand for? Why is the elephant a symbol of the Republican party? The answers both lie in history. |
What is the meaning of the popular vote, and how can someone become president without getting the most votes in an election? The need to protect the interests of small states holds the answer. |
