NCLB (part 2 of 3 blogs)

NCLB (part 2 of 3 blogs) Current mood: determined

(This is part 2, to get the full relevance of this blog you must go back and read part 1) No Child Left Behind (NCLB) This law was started as something good, it really had good intentions at heart. It was created so that ALL children would get an equal education, no matter race, color, disability, whatever. But it went about it all the wrong way. It created high stakes testing. It said that all students must meet a certain test score (state standardized tests) or else teachers and schools would be held accountable. They (lawmakers) want to see all students performing at a certain level, thus showing that they have had an equal education. Students are tested each year in April for grades 3rd-8th and then they must be tested at least once from 10-12th grade again. What happens is if you don't meet the goal, you are put on the "bad list" and you have one year to improve, if you don't improve and don't make the cut for a 2nd year in a row parents in your school district now can have the choice to put their child in another school and don't have to stay within that school (leaving the school with less students which equals less funding), and teachers and faculty can be replaced by the state government with new teachers and faculty if they choose. If they fail to make the grade for a third year, the school can be closed down and the students will have to go to a new school. These high stakes put tremendous pressure on teachers and schools.
What if all children can't learn the same things at the same time? What if you have students with learning disabilities and handicaps that hinder them from doing well? Is it possible for ALL students to learn the same things at the same time and be able to do well on standardized tests? What happens if the child is tired on testing day, or stressed out, or just doesn't do well on tests? Why should it all come down to one score on one test? And should the teacher be held accountable for students that just don't make the cut? What if it's not the teaching that is causing it? Why should teachers lose their jobs and schools have to close their doors because students aren't performing? Is it really the fault of the teacher if the students don't make the cut? Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. There are so many factors that go into it, why is the accountability soley rested on the teacher)
So what has happened because of these high stakes, is that math & reading have taken over our education. This year science is also added to the state testing, but until now is has only been math & reading that we have been required testing in. Most schools now teach to the test. The take practice standardized tests over and over and over, teaching only what is going to be on the test to make sure they will do well. Reading and Math lessons take up the majority of the classroom time, leaving little to no time for other subjects. Especially schools that have not done well the previous year. Like my kid school, last year they had done poorly the year before, so they were on the "bad list" and they had to make sure to do well last year in order to not have teachers get replaced. So they stressed the test, they did so many drills and practices, and teachers told me they were not allowed to open a social studies book or science book until after april, after testing, which gives you about a month left of school. Activities and fun things are cut, leaving only math and reading lessons. The kids were burnt out, the teachers were burnt out, but they didn't have a choice. These high stakes testing forced them to do this. They did extremely well on the test last year, so they are not on the bad list this year, so now they get to relax just a bit. But just a bit. Already they are stessing the importance of doing well on tests this year. And this is true of most schools out there. Teachers are told they they have to teach to the test. Everything else just isn't important. But it IS important. Students should be getting a well rounded education, it shouldn't be limited to just math, reading, and now science. Who are the lawmakers to say these are the most important subjects? Do you know what happens to Social Studies? I will tell you, in the next blog so that you aren't scared off by the amount of reading.