No Child Left Behind Act

[junglist bastid]

alot of dems bitch about it, rarely any republicans do. Through this act of legislation I have gotten 2 raises, i am now a certified paraprofessional registered with the Texas Education Agency, and i know now that any employee that is in the classroom with my kids at work have been tested and recoursed in all the basic fundamentals of children's education. Thank you George W. Bush.
Bastard Mike

[Vosh]

Interestingly, I've got a classmate who is studying it right now and hasn't said one positive thing really.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Bastard

alot of dems bitch about it, rarely any republicans do. Through this act of legislation I have gotten 2 raises, i am now a certified paraprofessional registered with the Texas Education Agency, and i know now that any employee that is in the classroom with my kids at work have been tested and recoursed in all the basic fundamentals of children's education. Thank you George W. Bush.
Bastard Mike

So you're also going to thank Ted Kennedy, right, because he was an integral partner to Dubya in getting that turd passed. Yet another conservative who praises the vast expansion of the federal government...

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Ryan

So you're also going to thank Ted Kennedy, right, because he was an integral partner to Dubya in getting that turd passed. Yet another conservative who praises the vast expansion of the federal government...

So, when you bash GW and the Act you'll bash Teddy too right?

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by xian

So, when you bash GW and the Act you'll bash Teddy too right?

Yeah, I said we was an equal partner in passing that turd.

[Adam D]

I've seen quite a few Republicans complain as time went on and the Act turned out to be less effective than Bush told them it would be.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Adam D

I've seen quite a few Republicans complain as time went on and the Act turned out to be less effective than Bush told them it would be.

that may be - does it mean that attempts to make things better shouldn't have been tried?

I've heard lots of complaints about the Act and I think some of the criticism is quite fair - but every time I acknowledge that to my in-laws (both are teachers) and return with the question, "What would have been a better solution to the obvious problem of failing schools." I get blank stares.... I feel for their position - I really do - but I also think hard core opponents of the Act best have reasonable alternative solutions to offer or risk simply being blank stares

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Yeah, I said we was an equal partner in passing that turd.

Bush signed it - Congress passed it - with the help of Teddy - you doubt he wasn't important in garnering support from the left?

And, just curious what your plan was that would have solved the problem the Act sought to address?

[Adam D]

Originally Posted by xian

that may be - does it mean that attempts to make things better shouldn't have been tried?

Not at all, but we should be considering a different path at this point.

I've heard lots of complaints about the Act and I think some of the criticism is quite fair - but every time I acknowledge that to my in-laws (both are teachers) and return with the question, "What would have been a better solution to the obvious problem of failing schools." I get blank stares.... I feel for their position - I really do - but I also think hard core opponents of the Act best have reasonable alternative solutions to offer or risk simply being blank stares

The Act was another step in what I think is causing the education problem in this country-- you can't multiple choice-test problems out of existence. I can't speak of your education experience, but I know growing up in Texas where focus on the standardized testing is ever growing, each year there was more focus placed on test-taking over actually learning the material or critical thinking on the subjects. The testing shows what we already know: students are failing to understand the material. Taking more time out of the year to prep students for the test is only further cutting into the time available to teach the very material they are tested over.

Rather than focus on multiple choice tests in education, perhaps schools should focus on teaching the material and cognative skills.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Adam D

Not at all, but we should be considering a different path at this point.

Fair enough/

Originally Posted by Adam D

The Act was another step in what I think is causing the education problem in this country-- you can't multiple choice-test problems out of existence. I can't speak of your education experience, but I know growing up in Texas where focus on the standardized testing is ever growing, each year there was more focus placed on test-taking over actually learning the material or critical thinking on the subjects. The testing shows what we already know: students are failing to understand the material. Taking more time out of the year to prep students for the test is only further cutting into the time available to teach the very material they are tested over.

Rather than focus on multiple choice tests in education, perhaps schools should focus on teaching the material and cognative skills.

Agree - but doesn't that beg the question... how does one measure the mastry of those skills?

[kit'n]

the govt needs to step in and make the teaching profession appear more appealing to people. they need to offer better pay and benefits to get more teachers into the classroom, thus lowering class sizes. they need to give extra incentives for low-income area schools to get better teachers where they are needed most. cut all the fucking pork out of the budget and redirect it to those that will be raising the future.

and like adam said, they need to ditch the standardized tests. my mom's a teacher and thats all she and all her fellow teachers at her school do is teach the test. the classrooms are so regimented now that there is no time for any extra learning... just what will show up on the test. it's sad.

[Hey Bubu]

Originally Posted by xian

Agree - but doesn't that beg the question... how does one measure the mastry of those skills?

There are guidelines that measure critical writing and reading skills.

[Edwin Watson]

Does any one else find it funny that the first state to implement this system has like the second worst public school system in the country?

I just find that ironic.

i think schools should be updating their curriculum every 2-3 years if not sooner

but i dont know what that has to do with this act as i havent even bothered looking at it

[PETA]

Originally Posted by TypeH

There are guidelines that measure critical writing and reading skills.

are they objective?