USA Teachers, No Child Left Behind, great law or full of it?
485078
No Child Left Behind is FULL OF IT!!!\n\nIt is unfair to students (how fair would it be to go to the hospital and inform the staff there that every patient, including those in the ICU, will have to run the New York City Marthon in less than 6 months or the hospital will be closed down and the staff won't be able to find jobs elsewhere?), makes teachers and schools the scapegoat for variables out of their control such as parenting issues (student attendance, etc.), and totally ignores most Special Education and ELL best practices research.\n\nAlso, increased testing time reduces instructional time (both the "big" state testing done in the spring, and the constant "data collection" efforts by districts using various assessment instruments in an attempt to provide alternative data if the kids fail state testing).\n\nThe "highly qualified" provisions place burden of proof for knowledge and skills on districts and teachers rather than on teacher prep programs. You would think that the college diploma (and continuing professional development certificates) would be proof of appropriate professional training. If incompetent teachers are there, it is because college programs failed to screen them properly. \n\nThe top cause of teacher burnout is paperwork/administrative stress, not the students. NCLB increases paperwork and administrative demands on the teachers.\n\nSchool administrators are finding their hands tied in regards to building discipline, because NCLB places AYP in jeapordy if there are "too many" office referrals and discipline actions...and the real troublemakers are quick to notice this and abuse it.\n\nWell, I could go on with more examples, but you get the idea.
607346
What you said is damn true and is scary or not?\nI'm a Dutchman who lives in Taiwan and if i see those children here, i feel sorry for them.\nWe in Europe and i think i also can speak for the USA the teacher teach us new things and on the end they do a test to see you understood it or not. Here in Taiwan most teacher teach for the test, because the test have to be good. So kids have to memorize everything for the test. Some teachers even just teach them things what will be on the test and other things not. Sometimes they even show the test in advance, so kids to what to learn. If the kids get a high score parents are happy, teacher gets a good name and the school too. They will never give a 0 points here, only if it's really bad, otherwise the parents here complain the teacher not the kid.\nIt unbelieveable, but they have every week for every subject a test. When i was in highschool, we had a test ones in a while. I don't know about the USA. \n\nIn Europe we see schools as education, in Taiwan it is a business. A kid is just a number and they care more the parents are happy, because they have to pay the money.\n\nIt is not only the school system, it is scary how most parents think and do.
182194
i found an excellent site for the info your looking for\nhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/news/reports/no-child-left-behind.html
162724
I was recently re-married and now have a 9-year-old son, so I'm clearly not an expert yet.  My husband and I have discussed this topic frequently since we are very concerned about our son's education/ future.  The conclusion we arrived at is that parents are the number one determinant of how well a student does in school.  We noticed that the difference between a good school and a poor school is the level of participation the school receives from the parents.  The public school our son is going to has almost 100% parent participation for open houses and teacher conferences.  The school district is also the highest rated school in our city and very highly rated in the country as well. They are rated high, mainly because the parents demand high performance. They basically teach the same content mandated by the state but they are producing a culture of learning above and beyond the state standard. So, by observation, we've concluded that the schools are not failing our students, the parents are really failing their children. Try shutting off the video games and TV in your house and hand your child a book to read.  You'll begin to see a change in your child overnight.  America is not responsible for it’s future as much as Americans are responsible. This applies to more than just school obviously, but what better place to start.
532650
From what I have seen, American High schools pale in comparison to schools in other developed countries.  What we seem to be about a school behind.  Our college is their high school, out high school is their middle school.\n\nWhen I went to Europe on an exchange, the students in 10th grade were learning calculus and they had to take like 4 languages.  At home I was taking geometry and one measly Spanish class.\n\nAnd Asia is a WHOLE different story.  Their 5 year olds are smarter than American high schoolers.\n\nI think its a bit of a shame, but our government is so scared to single people out or leave people behind.  Everyone has to have an equal opportunity.  And I am all for equal opportunity, but if a student refuses to take advantage of his opportunity, then screw him.  Our laws keep "dumbing down" the curriculum and forcing homogeneous grouping (no smart kids classes and dumb kids classes) so the motivated kids get bored and aren't challenged, and the lazy kids don't do any better because they don't want to and they have no intent of trying any harder.  Schools can't kick out students who don't want to learn, and teachers get put in the middle of the whole mess.\n\nAnyway, I will stop ranting now...
160064
the act was signed into law by the presadent you can read it on the web at www. no child left behind.com
447250
it puts too much emphasis on testing. we all know that all students are different and to develop standards and test them for students is way off base. bush and his administration has it all wrong when it comes to education.\n\nthe gates foundation approach of developing smaller schools so that teachers get to know their students if much better. if teachers know their students then they can teach them based on what they know about person.\n\nchildren are unique, indviduals and we should treat them as such. NCLB and its emphasis on standards and testing makes children seem like robots.
656716
First I think that 20% is a low estimation.  Second, teachers work incredibly hard to ensure that lessons are tailored to meet the needs of varying skill and ability levels.  Finally, even though teachers do what they can with the limited resources that they are given to work with, it remains difficult to reach all students (particularly with the levels of apathy at an all-time high).  There is nothing inherently wrong with the public school system.  The flaw however, is that not enough financial resources are put into a potentially great system.  With sufficient resources (financial, physical, and human), the percentage of students that would not understand their lessons would drop significantly.
938385
It's not working because it wasn't written by educators. It was written by beaurocrats.\n\nThe only way to fix the educational system is to let educators write the laws. Not the beaurocrats.
637502
Sign me up for your team - I agree with you completely.  I'm a former teacher.\n\nThe sad thing is that it wasn't always like this.  Our educational system used to be the best in the world.  Somewhere along the way, we lost our focus.  I don't think it's a lost cause, but we need to act NOW to save what's left.\n\nTeachers can't discipline children who misbehave without the risk of retribution from the parents.  When I was a child, if I was disciplined in school it was a small matter compared to what I faced when I got home.\n\nMany teachers have gotten to the point that they just want to coast to retirement.  They're vested in their retirement plans, and don't want to change careers even though they've lost the passion that put them in that job in the first place so many years ago.  Many new teachers are there because the college degree is relatively easy to get, they get summers off, and they get to coach a sport.  Now, I'm not saying ALL teachers are like this, but everybody must admit there are some out there, and they're bringing the system down.\n\nMany parents use school as a daycare center.  They expect teachers to teach their children how to behave.  They won't help their kids with homework because it's the teachers' responsibility to make sure the kids understand it.  \n\nFew parents attend parent-teacher conferences.  The ones that do are generally the parents of children that aren't having problems.  The kids see all of this and adopt the philosophy that, "If Mom and Dad and the teachers don't care, why should I?"\n\nSchools have become more focused on teaching vocational and technical classes, and less on the basics.  As an instructor of some college-level medical courses, I was once asked by a panel of high school administrators what courses they should offer to their students to better prepare them for a college program in healthcare.  "Should we offer Medical Terminology? Anatomy & Physiology?"\n\nMy answer was, "Make them take 4 years of math, 4 years of English, and 4 years of science.  If they haven't done that, they aren't ready for college."\n\nIf you have a plan to fix the system, count me in!  Let's start a movement in the right direction!\n\nP.S. - Did you notice that the only people who disagreed with you on this wrote in very poor form, with no capitalization or punctuation, or misspellings and generally poor grammar?  I found that interesting.
923462
If you have been following the news, you will know that they passed the bill, but never passed legislation to fund it.  The part of that No Child Left Behind Act, that they didn't publicize, is that it gives military recruiters access to information, to which they did not formerly have access.\n\nPeople are making quite a fuss about recruiters, who can force schools to hand over unlisted phone numbers, addresses, etc.  \nThey are also now permitted to take kids out of class to try to pitch their line about joining up.  They are appearing on people's doorsteps, uninvited, and insisting on talking to the high school kids.\n\nYou need to watch more network news.  The only thing that legistlation did is put more of a financial burden on local school districts and give military recruiters better access to the poor kids who will not be able to afford college.  Then, the Republicans were the majority in both houses of congress and refused to pass money to fund the Bill.  Maybe now, after January, there may be something done.
472325
I think these days, teachers are being forced to "teach towards the test" only.  In my state specifically, being an intellectually well-rounded student means nothing as long as your state test scores look good.  Previously, students were learning to successfully function in society, as well as to do well on tests, but the inverse seems to be in practice today.  No one is teaching courtesy, chivalry, or common sense to kids these days, which I think are imperative to becoming good citizens.  Teachers, in my opinion, are really getting a raw deal now.  Reproaching students by calling parents or punishing them doesn't seem to be working either.  OK, getting back to the teaching topic... one excellent teaching technique is to become as personable with students as possible.  That, in turn, will give students an initiative to learn.  I have had some horrible experiences with teachers that just don't care and have expressed this to students.  I definitely think that teachers these days are on the defensive and this a stark contrast from 20 years ago when the teacher acted more like a second mother to students than a disciplinarian only.
1026889
Once a school board makes up it's mind, the game is over. You could support the teachers by supporting any action they choose to take, such as sickouts or walkouts. My experience is that teachers teach for the love of teaching (not all) and that if they get stepped on, they won't mind too much.\n\nYou must be in a state with a weak teachers union. In NY or CA, this probably wouldn't fly.
997704
I taught in a public school for three years.  The "powers that be" actually told me to stop grading for grammatical and spelling errors, saying all of my students would fail.  That is a travesty.  From my perspective as a teacher, ignorance (which is what I believe you are really asking) is on the rise.  Despite compulsory education, it almost appears to me that we are reverting to a 19th century-like model with an educated few and masses of ignorance.
117512
its just a wild guess but i think the united states applies either more grade levels (years) into primary and secondary education... its either that or the age requirement for a kid's first day of school could be lower in g.b.\n\njust thinking aloud... but hey, it is an answer. :D
870679
Well, perhaps that's where the world is going. Nowadays teachers not only have to teach, but according to the government take over teaching values, respect, sex education, handling money & social skills. Perhaps they are now expected to do the learning for the students too?!? Hmmmm, interesting thought....
802667
If 1/2 the schools in the US thinks yes, then teachers are not doing well in the history aspect of education. Now, these kids need to know their rights, and the rights of others. I thought schools get taught the Constitution and bill of rights. At least I would expect thee civil war to be mentioned before 6th grade, the rest would follow. Freedom of speech, FREEDOM OF PRESS, freedom of religion, and so on. With this knowledge one can understand why America is America and not new great Brittan or some British ruled country paying taxes on land we are not living and harvesting from. ( ha, nowadays, this country is doing all kinds of illegal activities. No wonder why 1/2 the youth is lost and confused)