In name anyway. Because the name is too tied to Bush and Bush is unpopular. (Those were Representative George Miller’s, D-CA, words, not mine.)
So in all of the debate that has supposedly been surrounding NCLB this year as it comes up for reauthorization, all that we were really able to accomplish was a name change. Here are the suggestions, from the Washington Post:
- Quality Education for All Children Act, submitted by Marian Wright Edelman, president of the nonprofit Children’s Defense Fund.
- Children First! submitted by Donna Shalala, president of the University of Miami.
- New Partnerships for Student Achievement or Educating Americans for Today’s World, submitted by Dorothy Rich, founder and director of the nonprofit Home and School Institute. (I thought we were supposed to be educating for the future?)
The first one actually sounds like something. Believe it or not, I sort of like it. With a name like that, the legislation has to be good, even if it is the same old legislation with a brand new name attached.
But wait! There’s more. I do not know who Andrew Friedson is other than the president of the Student Government Association over at the University of Maryland at College Park, but his titles at least reflect what he thinks of the actual legislation rather than just a pretty bow to put on the package:
- No Child Left a Brain Act, or All the Money Left Behind Act.
I am sure some of you have titles to add to the list.
Ugh! Is that all they could come up with in debating the reauthorization of this Act–a name change? Sheesh!!! Time to start writing the representatives and Senators again.
As for which one I like, I would have to go with one of Andrew’s choices LOL
Actually, I really like Marian Wright Edelman. I read her book, The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children & Yours every couple of years.
But, I have to vote with Shawna, I like Andrew Friedson’s ideas better because I hate the whatever-you-call-it, high-stakes testing, all-children-are-average-bears, educrat driven program that currently is NCLB. (Oh, and let us not forget that there is no valid evidence that demonstrates that scoring well on these tests ever translates to adult success ~ ARGH!!!)
I am in a mood today. I had a discussion (not quite an argument but only because my generally good nature) with my sister about public school with my sister. She contends that when I bring David and Beverly home from Haiti, I should enroll them immediately in the public school so that they can participate in ESL. Apparently only in an ESL class will my kids be immersed in the English language and ever learn to speak. I guess ‘ee-way eak-spay ig-pay atin-Lay” at our house.
Oh, this comment is off topic… I hope I am not driving my blog readers away! ;o)
Yes, didn’t you know that English is best learned in a class with about 15 people, none of which speak English? Directed by a trained, certified teacher of course. But you just listen to the teacher. You practice with the other kids.
I learned so much more German in my high school German class than I did in Germany living with a German family. Now maybe I am being too sarcastic?
And I extend special privileges to my regular readers and commenters. So don’t worry about topicality. : )
A lot of the goals of NCLB are fine. In fact, I am sort of disgusted that some of it even had to be legislated. But it is a state issue, not a federal issue. There is no way the federal government can devise a solution to education that could meet every students’ needs. At its best, it could enforce some sort of mediocrity on all. Many are concerned about education, but I agree with Thompson on this:
“It’s your responsibility,” he said. “If you don’t like what’s going on, don’t get in your car and drive by your school board and maybe drive by the capitol and get on an airplane and fly to Washington and say, ‘I don’t like the way the school down the street is being run.”‘
The baltimoresun.com
As long as schools continue to indoctrinate students with evolution, there will never be “quality” education. The textbooks are filled with lies, misinformation, and doctrine.
Don’t most states have an “Accuracy in Education” law? I’d think they should start with their curriculum first before making speeches and signing blustery documents about “quality” education!
Forget the Kids Keep the Money Act
Throw Money Down a Hole Act
Cato, I read recently that the state of California actually has no law about accuracy in textbooks and that it is a major undertaking to get books corrected. That is bad since the rest of us are dependent on the textbooks CA and TX choose.
And it isn’t just evolution. Because textbook adoption is a heavily politicized process, the curriculum gets so watered down in order not to offend anyone that they are dry, boring, uninspiring (any more synonyms?) and, unfortunately, often incorrect.
Thanks anonymous and Isaiah5513! I knew someone would have a name for the act!
Julie,
One of my best college friends was an MK born and raised in Haiti. She speaks English AND Creole AND French AND Spanish all fluently. Actually she is the least fluent in Spanish…that’s the one she learned mostly sitting in classes.
Education must remain a local issue, as local control is the only effective and sure way to maintain standards. Amy
The Don’t Let States Govern Act.
Here! Here! Rick
Local control…AMEN!!!!
And another nice suggestion, Rick.
How about the “Abolish the Federal Department of Education Act” or the “Reinforce the Tenth Amendment” act
That’ll fix everything
I also think the first one delivers a clear and solid message about providing education to children.
I think the Quality Education for All Children Act sounds more appropriate. The title itself is already clear about its purpose.