Politics over education

Here’s an interesting article about NCLB.  Connecticut tried to sue the federal government for forcing NLCB onto the state without adequate funding and impossible goals.  A federal judge threw out the case in April, (I’ll have to research more into that to comment on the decision).  However, CT is appealing it.  I wonder why other states are not also suing?  The case, should it come before the Supreme Court, should be a class action suit representing the all states’ education departments and all students and families.

Another issue with NCLB is that it expects ALL students, regardless of needs, to meet the same (by same, I mean unclear) standards by 2014.  What of the English Language Learners (ELLs) and the Special Education students?

It is ridiculous to expect ELLs to become proficient in a new language in a very short period of time.  In NY, students are granted a reprieve for the first year; however, they are expected to take the state tests in their second year. The tests that the students are expected to take are extremely difficult.  An ELL entering 4th grade may only have enough language to read at the second grade level.  However, they are expected to take a fourth grade level test.  This is unfair to the student and to the school, which will be penalized for the low grade that this student will get.

Special Education students’ needs are so varied that everything is lumped together under the term “special education”.  The reason that these students’ are categorized as such is because there are modifications in their learning environment and and teaching to help them make progress in school.  There is not a clear solution to help any of these students.  There is not one solution that will fit ALL students.  So how can they all be held accountable to the “standard” set by NCLB?

NCLB is obviously not created by educators of our current educational system.  A knowledgeable & practical educator in our system would recognize the unrealistic expectations set forth in NCLB.   NCLB was created by politicians for political purposes.  It should never have been passed into law.  NCLB should have been established as a motto or an ethic for all educators.