No Child Left Behind—Failing Grade
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was signed into law on January 8, 2002 by President Bush. It was intended to represent sweeping changes in education reform and focused on measuring a school’s success by the achievement of their students. As with many laws, the intent was positive. The results, however, have been disturbing. There are consequences to this failing system.
Since standardized testing is now the rule of measuring a school’s success and subsequently it’s funding, many teachers have been forced to spend too much time preparing their students to properly fill in the blanks for these exams. Rather than engaging students in an encouraging environment of broad learning, teachers have been restricted in their capacities by these imposed superfluous measurements. The tests mandated under NCLB do not adequately denote a student’s knowledge, abilities or needs. Schools which do not fare well on these particular test scores receive punitive assessments rather than support. At the very least this has not created an atmosphere which is conducive to learning. Knowledge is left behind.
Teachers who have traditionally been able to imbue their students with a love of learning have been thwarted. The ramification is that tens of thousands of teachers are dropping out of the profession or opting for an early retirement. They have been demoralized and de-skilled. When teaching methods are mandated to be standardized, the impact on creative and innovative instruction is severe. Teachers have traditionally been one of the greatest resources for our children. How many of us recall a teacher who had a profound influence in our lives? Their importance cannot be under-rated or under-appreciated. In addition, this generates the loss of future teachers who shift career goals as horror stories emerge across the country. These teachers are left behind.
Of even more concern is the astounding drop-out rate of our nation’s students. A report released April 2, 2008 by an educational advocacy group stated that almost half of all public high school students in the country’s fifty largest cities fail to graduate. Fifty percent is a staggering figure and bodes poorly for the future of our nation. One measure of the social implications of this was noted by researchers who stated that people who fail to graduate from high school were eight times more likely to end up in prison. If our schools cannot be permitted to encourage learning and to reach each child, this is a direct consequence. These children are left behind.
Also at risk are programs for gifted children. The emphasis is on testing for low-performing students. With that being the focus, high-performing students are not challenged and become bored. The bar has been set low so there is little incentive to move these students to a higher level. These children are left behind.
It is a moral imperative that the NCLB law be revisited and restructured. It has been in place long enough for data to be gathered that shows it is a failing system. If it is not addressed soon there will be no brain-trust left in our nation to correct it.
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Dear Cherlock,
I certainly agree that this government program, like most government programs, has been a failure. All the problems mentioned in your essay have been the predictable result of this government program.
We certainly need to do better in a world that innovation and cutting edge technology are the keys to success. The problem is that half our students are not motivated to do the work necessary to “succeed” by our standards.
Their outlook is different. Academic failure and entering into the welcoming arms of the welfare state is not an unattractive option. Poverty in the USA certainly is not like in the third world. Free housing, medical care, food stamps, cash subsidies is all attractive. Unless “failure” is made less attractive, many citizens will opt for it rather than work.
Despite this, the country seems poised to elect a Liberal, president. How much more attractive will he make failure? Will we get to 75% dropping out of school?
Dear Paul,
You bring up some interesting points, but there is a definite chasm in education between inner city students and those of more affluent groups.
Obama does have viable options to rectify NCLB. It has possiblities but needs a strident revamping. There are undercurrents of inequality that plague public education under the Bush administration’s initiative of this program. There are government subsidies of private and charter schools that drain resources from urban schools. Those students are then set up to fail as working-class children get substandard schooling.
Regarding Welfare, I do not believe that if elected, Obama would be an enabler. In various speeches he has given, he has advised youth to strive to rise above their circumstances. As an African American he would be a role model for young people as we have never had before. For them to see an intact Black family, educated, prosperous and concerned, would send a stronger message than any government check could.
Dear Cherlock,
You are obviously very very impressed with Obama talking, but I am not so sure the rest of the world is as impressed with Obama talking as you are. Do you really think that Obama speeches will have an effect on inner city youth behavior? Do you really think Obama talking (ie “diplomacy”) will solve America’s world problems?
Dear John,
No single individual can solve all the problems our country is facing. We will not know what Obama is capable of accomplishing until he is elected. All we have to go on for any candidate are the messages we hear from them during the campaign and their platforms which are readily available on the Internet. That being said, one of the reasons I do believe he can turn things around is that he will not fly solo, but has stated that he will surround himself with strong advisers and is also looking at Conservatives for his cabinet.
Can he impact inner city youth in a positive way? I believe he can. He is already lecturing Black fathers to parent their children and to be involved in their lives. The speech I saw him give recently on this message was in a predominantly Black church. He was Cosbyesque in delivering a strong message which was well-received. Both Barack and his wife Michelle can have positive influences, especially on Black youth. Our youth all need strong, family-oriented role models today. Certainly the problems of inner-city youth are not restricted to the Black community but to all the young people who live there.