So, I decided to devote this blog to No Child Left Behind (also known as NCLB). I assume most of you have heard of NCLB but for those of you unfamiliar with it, NCLB is an act that deals with education in public schools. Being a political science major, I’ve been introduced to NCLB numerous times in my previous courses. I’ve met people who love it and I’ve met others who really hate it. Personally, I’m not the biggest of NCLB for a few reasons. First of all, it establishes a system of incentives permitting school districts to “game the system.” States, for instance, lower their educational standards since each state is allowed to produce its own tests and, thus, make it much easier to increase test scores. Test results become manipulated and it is impossible to compare progress from state to state. Second, it creates unrealistic goals. By 2014, it declaims that, “every child is supposed to test on grade level in reading and math.” Unfortunately, that goal will never come to fruition due to all the scenarios and variables that exist pertaining to school and education itself. 100% proficiency, in this case, is unobtainable. Third, it emphasizes the importance of standardized tests. Teachers are encouraged to teach a narrow subset of skills that will amplify test scores rather than focus on deeper understanding. Also, the unique and creative teaching styles of teachers (that could compel students to learn more quickly, understand the material better, and have more fun in the classroom) are extirpated. Fourth, it harms the arts and elective education. Almost all funding from the government is allocated towards testable subjects with, since 2007, 71% of schools reducing instruction time in art, foreign language (big sad face from me on this one), history, and music. Students, in this circumstance, are cheated out of a well-rounded education. Fifth, it does not offer any efficient method of evaluating teachers and their performance in the classroom. Evaluating teachers becomes so difficult causing schools to fire teachers who don’t really deserve it and to hire fewer teachers who are actually worthy of being hired. Also, teachers employed at struggling schools receive less resources making evaluation even more difficult to compare from school to school. It’s evident, if you agree with me to some extent, that education needs to be reformed. But how does our society go about accomplishing such a formidable task? Do we just completely abolish NCLB or do we alter little parts of it here and there? Personally, I believe we should alter little parts of it rather than throwing away the entire act because it does have good intentions (they just aren’t being executed properly). In fact, I know President Obama and his administration have pledged to reform our educational system so I guess we’ll see what unfolds in due time.
You have wonderful points! I think the one that angers me the most is the focus on standardized testing. You sort of mentioned it, but not in BIG BOLD LETTERS. Everyone learns differently, and some students don't do well on standardized tests. This focus is pushing them behind when there is no need for that. It the teacher's responsibility to cater to the needs of the students, and different learning styles is just one part that needs to be focused on. No Child Left Behind is definitely putting a kink in the progress to understand the individuality of each student.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Why are we two of the few people that post blogs before the weekend??
You bring up such good points! My biggest problem with NCLB is that it takes away from learning about the arts. I think kids need a nice, well-rounded education and it sucks that they don't teach on all subjects equally.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you! You had some really great points. Not everyone learns the same as everyone else. I do not agree with standardized testing at all and they should not have to dumb the system down. I also agree with Megan, they need to teach all subjects equally!
ReplyDeleteDOMINIQUE – Most of the people I know who dislike NCLB seem to all have a problem with the standardized testing. My main issue with standardized tests pertains to educators imparting a narrow subset of skills to their students rather than focusing on other essential skills that students will need later on in life. I really like what you said about “understanding the individuality of each student.” You’re so right! I mean, no two students are exactly the same, hence, they will learn differently and standardized tests just makes circumstances worse and more difficult to ameliorate in the future.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, I was thinking the same thing last night when I was commenting on your blog. Maybe we heard our professor incorrectly, but I’m pretty sure she told us to write 1 blog and leave 1 comment by Friday each week, right?
MEGAN – Yes! It’s horrible that instruction time is being taken away from the arts and other electives. You’re a theatre major, right? So, you’ll understand how important the arts can mean to certain students. I remember in high school that the only reason some students showed up to their classes was the fact that they had fun electives after school (theatre, marching band, photography, etc) to participate in. Some of my friends were really, really passionate about the arts (it’s all that really mattered to them) and I think high school would have been a much more difficult and unsatisfying experience for them if their electives had been taken away.
NICOLE – It seems that standardized testing is the most disliked part of NCLB. It definitely needs to be reformed if our educational system intends to become better and function more efficiently for its students. And yes! All subjects should be taught equally. I love studying foreign languages and when I read that schools were reducing their instruction time in foreign languages, I became really sad and angry. I took 4 years of French in high school and it definitely made me a better student in other subjects such as math and English. In fact, there are numerous articles about bilingual people performing higher on aptitude tests than unilingual people so reducing instruction in foreign languages and other electives in order to focus on testable subjects just seems ridiculous and unnecessary to me.