Monday, July 16, 2007 Blog: NCLB

What are your thoughts about NCLB, and the politics of education (especially reading)?

My thoughts on NCLB and the politics of education are very mixed. I could literally write a 10 page paper about this so I won't be able to elaborate on every point.

First, NCLB... The concept is a good one and I feel as though it is doing some good. I like how it holds schools and teachers accountable. I like how it forces teachers to be properly certified because it is important that our children get the best teachers possible. If it wasn't for NCLB, the NJCUE program that I am in would not be funded or possible. There are 18 of us in Cohort 4 and we are all dedicated to this mission and put our heart and soul into teaching these children. This is what these children need, especially in the urban/Abbott school districts.

NCLB definitely needs reform though. The time alloted to completed the requirements, etc I believe is not enough. Also, like the Wiki pointed out, the funding is just not there. While the Abbott schools get a lot of money, John Corzine's decision to make cuts there have already started to affect the schools. Every school in Newark had to cut at least two positions out. The schools already do not have enough resources and with the cuts they are suffering more.

I also believe that these strict rules motivate people to "cheat", so to speak. Test results are either altered or other measures are taken. I know for a fact that in my school, kids from out of district are let into our school who will help boost the scores. A kid from out of district who is a behavior problem and has low test scores is sent back with no problems, but if the child is an acheiver, him/her is kept. So there is no way to know for sure if the boosted test scores we are seeing in NJ is a result of NCLB working or the manipulation of scores and students.

I also think that NCLB did not take special education students into consideration either. Some children are in 5th grade and reading/writing on a 1st grade level. How are they expected to pass the standarized tests? There should be a separate section that addresses this and accounts for special needs children. I have also heard of schools limiting their special needs programs and students just because of the test scores. This is ashame and our children are suffering as a result.

So NCLB has great intentions but in order for it to truly work, major changes need to made. Once the kinks are worked out, I believe it could work.

As for the politics on education, politics is always a hard subject. I think some reading programs are geared towards companies making money as opposed to getting the programs children need based on their learning styles. And again, children suffer. It's like the drug companies paying doctors to give their drug to patients, etc etc... I think we're losing sight of the true needs of children. Most children learn to read fine using standard methods but the children that get left behind need other ways to learn and I believe this is where we fall short. Politics in my mind are almost always never good. You always have to find a way around them. That may be a terrible generalization but I am going only on my experiences.