What Does “No Child Left Behind” Mean To You?
Posted by Catherine Morgan on February 6, 2007
painting by © joannier12
What Does “No Child Left Behind” Mean To You? — by Catherine Morgan
The name, “No Child Left Behind”, is a great name, and I am 100% on board with not leaving any children behind. I mean really, how can you NOT support this policy? Nobody wants to leave the children behind. It reminds me a lot of the Bush administration’s policy in Iraq, if you’re against the policy, you’re against the troops. How convenient, slap a good name on a bad policy, and humiliate everyone into accepting it. It’s really very smart when you think about it, you can take most of the hard work out of policy making, just as long as you have a good PR person to whip up a catchy name. In the long run, I think our kids would be better served with a less glamorous name, and a policy that didn’t leave them behind.
With that said, there are many aspects of this policy, and I am not going to be able to address each one on this one post. Although, as always, I am looking forward to hearing all of your views, on all sides of this issue. But, for the sake of time, I’m just going to tell you the “nuts and bolts” of why I consider, “No Child Left Behind”, to be just a glorified name, masquerading as good public policy. You might want to check this site out as well, Gambling with the Children.
From a mother’s point of view. It seems contraindicated for teachers to be teaching “techniques” to pass one test, in-place of actually teaching subjects. Let me put it this way. Would you want to go to a doctor, who went to a medical school, that actually taught the field of medicine? Or one that just taught how to pass the boards? I would venture to guess that most of us want our doctor to actually know something about medicine, not just be able to take the test to become a doctor, right? So why would we want anything less for our children? Have you seen many bumper stickers that say, “Proud to be the mother of a child who can pass a test”?
Of course, I don’t blame the teachers, they have to do this, because the school will lose federal funding if it doesn’t do well on this one test. See the problem? But, for students to be successful in life, school needs to be about more than just taking tests. And right now, it’s not. Essentially, all the children are being left behind, because of a policy designed to regulate federal funding for education, with one test.
I haven’t even touched on the fact, that the schools that need the money the most, are the ones that find it more difficult to pass these tests, and in turn lose federal funding. So, without the funding, they can’t exactly improve their ability to pass these tests. It is kind of the opposite of, “the rich get richer” theme. See the problem? More children left behind.
I don’t know how it is in other states, but in Florida, a student can have a 4.0 GPA, but fail the FCAT, and not graduate from high school. In other words, if your child is feeling ill, or upset on the day of the test and doesn’t pass, they will not graduate. If you are thinking, well that would never happen, let me assure you, it does. In fact, many seniors at my son’s school, will just drop out in the beginning of their senior year without even trying, because they know they didn’t pass the FCAT, so why should they bother? If you ask me, that seems like a few children being left behind.
I understand how troubling it would be for our government to change it’s policy on education, to actually reflect the name “No Child Left Behind”. So, in the interest of full disclosure, maybe just changing the name would be in order, something that truly reflects the current policy. I have an idea, we could just call it what it is, and then turn it into a game show……”Testing For Dollars”.
Too harsh? Not harsh enough? Let me know what you think.
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Additional information I have found since writing this last night, some of you may be interested in:
US students ranked 24th out of 29 other advanced countries.
["Surely this inexcusable underinvestment is one significant reason why, despite our national wealth and GDP which are higher than virtually all of Europe combined, American students as a whole fare so poorly compared to their counterparts in other advanced countries. In 2003, the United States ranked 24th out of 29 advanced countries in combined mathematical literacy, according to the Program for International Student Assessment. A better ranking in combined reading literacy—15th out of 27 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries in 2000—might be counted a success when compared to our abysmal math performance, but this can hardly be comforting if we consider that students are performing significantly better in countries without America’s vast wealth."] You can check out this whole article America 101
unicef.pdf
UNICEF, Child poverty in perspective:
An overview of child well-being in rich countries,
Innocenti Report Card 7, 2007
UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Florence.
INTERESTING LINK: Declining Quality of Math in America
If anyone finds additional links that would be good for this post, just put them in comments, and I will add. Thanks.
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Let us know what you think on some of the other issues in politics today…..just go the the WHAT DO YOU THINK? link.
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rytiko said
As a Florida resident soon to take the 10th grade FCAT, I whole-heartedly agree. But my reasons for disliking the program are beyond those that you speak of.
My first, and biggest, issue with the No Child Left Behind act is the funding. Where is the funding for the smaller class sizes and improved intensive programs coming from? The gifted/talented programs that once flourished. In order to force the students at the bottom up, they let the students at the top sink. Some may see this as a worthy sacrifice, but honestly, let’s face it – the kids unable to pass a test as disgustingly easy as the FCAT probably have no intent on going to college or doing anything academically dependent with their lives anyway. So why even bother? Why not just further the success of those that will actually be successful? As cold-hearted as it may sound, I’d have no regrets about leaving the bottom-of-the-line students behind in order to further the success of the kids who will make a TRUE difference in the world.
My second issue is the low standards this program has. Sure, there’s a test that must be passed. I don’t know about other states, but in Florida, standardized testing is a joke. The test is so easy you may actually lose IQ points when you take it. The challenge is being able to deal with the stress and boredom of all-day testing.
I applaud you for this post, though my distaste for the act is placed in different areas.
kayinmaine said
It means backdoor draft to me.
helenl said
Like you, I think the idea behind the phrase is a very good one. But in reality, it has neutered the classroom teacher. The classroom teacher, not equipment, administration, PTA membership, etc., is the most important factor in a child’s education. (Second is co-operation between parents and teacher. Everyone on the same side: You know, the child’s.) When you take away the teacher’s autonomy, so that clones teach to tests, you take away the heart and soul of elementary and secondary school learning. Yes, there are bad teachers, just as there are bad doctors, lawyers and plumbers, but, in the main, people who choose to teach want to teach. So I say, let them teach. The “no child left behind” program has left everyone behind. And is isn’t the fault of the classroom teacher.
Frances Ellen said
I read your “No Child Left Behind” article with interest. Your concerns are valid, as are Rytiko’s, although hers are a bit contemptuous toward children who are not equipped as intellectually as she obviously is. Both points of view, although divergent, are equally well-founded. The bottom line is, like many laws, no room has been left for middle ground.
No child should be expected to pass one test in order to move on to the next grade. There should be many tests given throughout the school year culminating in an average that either qualifies a student to move on, or results in the student repeating a class. Tests should always be equal to a student’s ability. Some students will struggle while others excel. That is how school has always been. The only difference is, when I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, you got “left behind” because you still had much to discover. That idea went out the window sometime in the 70’s. Parents didn’t want their child to repeat a grade, therefore kids that should have repeated began to get pushed through each grade becoming more and more mired in an abyss of darkness, unable to comprehend anything new, because their groundwork was nonexistent.
Perhaps you should look to the parents, who made getting “left behind” a dirty word. They made it shameful for a student to attend summer school, or to repeat a year.
Are the teachers more incompetent today then yesterday? Probably not. Is the FCAT a feasible way to determine who moves on and who doesn’t? Definitely not.
Catherine Morgan said
Rytko — You are right on the money with your assessment of the testing, especially from a 10th graders point of view…..(not so much with the “leave the dumber ones behind” idea), but you are young…..it’s hard to think past your own needs at your age. So, I’m just going to glaze over that comment for the moment.
My son is in 10th as well, so he is also taking the FCAT today….and he is quite annoyed. But, I just want to take a minute with you, and go a bit further than this topic and talk about YOUR personal education situation. I’m not a school counselor, so this is just what I happen to know, being the parent of another 10th grader if Florida. Even though my son is “technically” considered to be in “honors” classes, it is really no more than being in classes with the “average ability” students of the higher grade. And you are right, it is better for both the “lower ability” students, as well as the “honors” students, to have teachers that know how to work with these students and maximize their learning and education. Not suggesting to leave behind the “average” kids, just to realize that ALL students have separate needs as far as how they process, understand, and learn…..and each level will learn at a different rate. When put all together, some will be falling behind, some will be on target, and others will just be bored.
With that said, you sound like a smart student. Just in case you are not aware, there are a few higher level programs available to you. The one that is the most promising for your future is: The Bright Futures Program, this is a program that pays from 100% to 50% of you college education, as long as you meet certain scholastic criteria. It’s a good reason to try and maintain high grades, even if you are bored. If you haven’t already heard about this program, please arrange to talk to your counselor about it, and if you have heard, but don’t know all the requirements, go talk to you counselor. This is a program that is funded by the Florida State Lottery…..and Florida is one of the only states in the entire country that has a program such as this. So, if you want to go to college, without racking up thousands of dollars in debt before you even graduate….this is something to consider.
So, that is your motivation to keep doing well, even if you are bored and frustrated. But, let me tell you about something else that you can actually do while you are still in high school. I’m not sure if this program has a specific name, but essentially, it is (high school students, go to community college, during the school day, at NO cost to them, and it counts both towards your high school credits, and your college credits). Basically, if you keep your grades up, and are taking college level classes, the state will pay for you to go to your community college for these classes. So you are both a high school student, and a college student. You might take half you classes during the day at the high school, and the other half at the college, or wait until you have met all high school requirements, but instead of graduating early, take classes full time at your community college….at no cost to you.
I know that all sounds confusing, but if you don’t know about it already, go to your school counselor and ask about it. I believe this is a statewide program, but I am not 100% sure. I just moved here a year ago, so I only know what I know because of my son wanting to participate in these programs. He is in 10th grade, and next year he is hoping to begin taking classes at the college, by the second half of the year….he just has to fulfill certain requirement before then. That is why I am saying….talk to your counselor soon….you wouldn’t want to miss out on one of these opportunities, because of some silly requirement you could have fulfilled. And, yes……the FCAT is part of the requirement…….sorry.
Best of luck to you……and follow your dreams.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Helen….I agree with you 100%. It must be so hard being a teacher these days. I’ve also noticed that teachers with a strong “passion” for teaching, that go “against the grain”, in following some of these “administrative” protocols……They are being left behind as well, in that they are losing their jobs. And, I know from dealing with teachers like this, they are the ones that the kids learn the most from. Because of this policy, teacher are losing their passion for teaching, and the ones who try to hang on to it, are gradually being weeded out.
It is sad for all,the only winners are the government. Off hand, I don’t know the statistics on where the US stands in comparison to other countries in education. But, I recall being quite shocked at the time I did hear them. I’ll try and look that up for a link later.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Frances Ellen, (AKA mom) — Thanks for your comments and your interesting point of view. I just wanted to add that this federal test is not even really used to determine who goes on and who doesn’t (although, it is a secondary use), the main purpose of this test, is to see what schools will get federal funding, and what schools will not. That is the biggest problem, and that is why the schools are focusing more on the test itself, and less on the needs of the students.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi everyone….thanks for your comments. I just wanted to let you know I added two more links at the bottom of this post.
This one is about the US ranking 24th in educatoin:
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1101-33.htm
This one is about the Declining Quality of Math in America:
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2007/1/25/174426/953
I would be happy to add other links that anyone feels would be helpful in this debate.
Thanks.
rytiko said
Catherine, you are correct. My comment was slightly ill-mannered, though recently my frustration with the public school system has been increasing, more because of the students than the teachers. None of the non-”honors” (you’re right, it’s just a class that actually gets through the whole curriculum) students seem to have any real goals, or any strong motivations for their future. It irritates me to look at the majority of a school and see nothing but drugs, sex, and lack of motivation – and yes, as a high school student, I can honestly say that a vast majority of the students use drugs of some form. Regardless, you’re correct. Attention should surely be given to them, but in a different way than this program requires.
And I’ve heard of both programs, and the second one that you spoke of is known as Dual Enrollment. I’ve looked into it, but you are unable to begin until Junior year. Also, several teachers and councilors have told me that AP classes look better on a college application. That being my overall goal, I’ll do all that I must to reach a good college in the state of Florida.
Your son sounds motivated, which is great. However, Florida schools have this tendency to do things a bit backwards. Things that let you get ahead now don’t help as much as hanging back a bit, because of the way most colleges view Dual Enrollment. Don’t get me wrong, it still looks good – though, from what I’ve heard, AP classes look better.
Catherine Morgan said
“Rytiko” — Thanks for the information, I’ll have to look into the subject of my son and the AP classes vs. Dual Enrollment. Like I said, we have only been here about a year, so I’m just learning the system too.
You are right about the drugs, and all the other problems in the public schools, it’s not just Florida, unfortunately it is everywhere. That is a whole other topic for discussion.
Anyway, I think you sound like you really have your act together, you are focused on your future, and aware of the problems of getting involved with the wrong crowd. Good for you. You should be very proud of yourself. You will do very well in both school and life, just keep it up. And, don’t let anyone ever discourage you.
**Also, if you can, get the adults in your life to vote, and to vote for the candidates that have YOUR best interest at heart. Voting is the only way to get things changed in this country, and even then it is a slow process.
Good luck. I hope to continue to hear from you on other issues that you have strong feeling about. Feel free to recommend an issue that you think would be good on this site, I like getting the input.
anonymous said
Research shows that retaining a child damages their self esteem and repeating a grade level doesn’t help over the long run. The solution is more resources, after school resources such as tutoring to help children who need help. You wouldn’t believe the hoops that a struggling child must go through before they will receive any resources, especially in California. There just aren’t enough. It’s all about numbers and test scores–that’s where the money is going to and being spent.
Catherine Morgan said
“Anonymous” — I agree that holding children back a grade does not help at all. If anything it hurts thier self-esteem, and in-turn, when you have a low self-esteem you are not going to feel you are capable of doing well in anything, including school. And, on the other hand….a child with a low self-esteem, that is able, (encouraged, or helped) to accomplish A’s and B’s…..will begin to feel better about themselves.
Sasha said
Catherine…
I’ve literally just stumbled upon your article, I wholeheartedly agree with what you say in your post.
I do not know much about the American education system, I am a British citizen and grew up in Liverpool UK.
The education system in the UK over the past few years has suffered from constant tampering from the government and a major lack of funding. To the extent that schools are now competing for funding the same way as American schools are, through the examinations they place on their students. Schools that do well increase their funding, schools that fail to meet the criteria loose funding and are often shut down.
Teachers are put under increasing pressure by the government which has lead to the focus on passing exams and not on actually learning anything.(a problem which has begun to seep into the University system)
Teachers have been robbed of their sense of worth, I watched as one of my most inspirational teachers lost hope, the government brought new procedures into the education system which gave teachers more paper work and less time to focus on lesson plans. My teacher would tell me that she no longer felt asthough she was teaching and inspiring young people to think for themselves, instead she felt asthough she was teaching parrots how to repeat what they saw.
As the teachers get more depressed it rubs off on the students even if they do not realize it creating a very fast spiral downwards.
This can be seen in the HUGE amount of bullying that goes on in UK schools, its a big problem which is rarely discussed.
The education system in the uk is failing its children, I was one of the lucky ones and was able to escape from a school I hated to a much better school when I was 16 (thanks to my parents) but even there in my new haven I still saw the problem of bullying and saw in action the demoralizing of teachers which is happening across the country.
Recently UNICEF produced a report which discusses child poverty and child welfare in 21 of the worlds most developed countries, “An overview of child welbeing in rich countries” covers various aspects of childhood and the lives of adolesecents. With 1 being the country which had the happiest children and young people and was considered to have done well for their youth and 21 being the worst country with the most depressed children and young people, America came in 20th and the UK 21st. I was unfortunately not shocked by this, which saddens me.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/13_02_07_nn_unicef.pdf this is a link to the UNICEF report if anyone is interested in it.
the young are the hope for the future, this message appears to have been lost by our governments.
Catherine Morgan said
“Sasha” — Thanks so much for your comment, it was very interesting and informative….as well as sad. I am going to put the unicef link in the original post so more people will see it. Thanks a lot, I hope you will stop back…..visitors from the UK always welcome.
Take care.
edukfun said
Catherine,
I agree with you wholeheartedly about the potentially deceptive name, and about the complexity of the issue.
Few doubt that there is an intelligence or education crises in America, and most of us want to “fix” it. But I wonder if enough work is being done to identify the causes behind our slipping down the educational slope.
One avenue that hasn’t been fully explored is the possibility that we are doing something culturally that is causing poor performance in schools. For example, a NY Times article by Po Bronson recently pointed out the dangers of praising children for being smart, instead of for working hard. In essence, a child’s educational work-ethic can be seriously undermined.
I wrote about it in greater detail here: http://edukfun.wordpress.com
Additionally, our culture seems to focus more and more on consumption and status, on get-blank-quick, instead of on hard work. Our heros are rap stars who rose from drug-dealing poverty to international super-stardom overnight; Bill Gates, a college drop-out who had cramming competitions before final exams; athletes and racing stars. Anthropologically speaking, I don’t see much evidence that we value hard work.
If we look at the self-esteem movement and modern classrooms, I think there is a trend towards telling kids that they are smart, irrespective of reality. The culture propagated by our social institutions tells kids that they are smart, that the problem is the teachers, the school administration, lack of funding, the President. Ask teachers in these struggling schools (my wife teaches in one), and they will tell you that the kids do not do the work. They are not interested in doing homework. They don’t want to read. They aren’t making enough of an effort.
No, that doesn’t apply to everybody. It DOES apply to some, and no one is talking about it. We talk about funding and FCAT and teachers’ unions, but not about hard work.
Thanks,
Allen Dobkin
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Allen,
I agree with you. This is a very complex problem, one that is going to need very complex solutions. I just hope solutions will come soon, and that they will be less political, and more educational….focusing on the “kids” and the “teachers”, not just on the $$$$$$$$.
Thanks for you comment.
Annie said
Catherine,
Thank you for a well-written article that mirrors many of my own thoughts on this subject. In fact, these issues are a part of the reasons my husband and I decided to home school our 4 children.
It was a difficult decision that culminated at the end of our (now) 13 year olds 3rd grade year. We watched her change from an articulate, out-going, and happy child to one who hated school so badly, she would literally become sick to her stomach. Much of this policy’s inadequacies were the cause of these frustrations. For something like this to cause such reactions in a CHILD of her age at the time, was unbelievable. And after watching her, we knew our other children – one of whom is autistic – would not last in such an environment.
I am glad people are beginning to stand up and take notice that this policy is adversely affecting our nation’s youth – our leaders of tomorrow.
Thank you!
Blessings,
Annie
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Annie,
Thank you for sharing your story, I know exactly what you mean. I give you a lot of credit home schooling four children, that must be very difficult, but I’m sure it is also very gratifying for you.
Thanks you so much for your comment.
Catherine.
Would You Be Covered?? « BuelahMan’s Redstate Revolt said
[...] Child Left Behind Just to name a few. Bottom line. Things aren’t always as they seem…Especially when it [...]
tanya marquette said
here in ny we call the program All Children Left Behind. The reality is that public school education is, and has never been about real learning. It has always been about tracking people and placing them in various levels of the economic hierarchy. This ACLB mandate is seen by many of us as a revving up of the competitive nature for survival. If you rev up the ante and provide no means to get there a self-fulfilling prophecy is created with concommitant divisiveness as reflected in rytiki’s first comment. The failure rate is now being placed on entire schools at once as opposed to single young people. Just think how many more people they can destroy by defunding an entire school. And what of the few students who are of really limited ability that need one-on-one academic attention to function. These young people are destined to be eliminated asap and that is how money will be saved. Of course, a little subtlety is in order because if they are too blatant, people will get the real message and may rise up in anger. So it is done inch by inch and done in a way they can blame the victim–the school, the teacher, the parent, the student. Such clever elitists!
So if one is to discuss an issue like this, I always prefer to go for the jugular of it. Much like Rev. Wright who called it like it is. But Americans dont do well with taking in reality.
Sorry for the bluntness.
tanya