| just came aboard to this web site, your question is one that has plauged our country since President Bush has taken office. It seems that this sytem of no child left behind was started while Bush was gov. of Texas, he told the American people during campain this new system worked, but after his first term, the true facts came to light, the numbers were inflated and in some cases flase. Seems that students who didn't make the grade from test were just skiped to a higher level were the testing wasn't required. (Time Magazine) In other words if a student didn't pass the state mandated test in grade 7 then they would promote that student to 9 to fluff up thier numbers to say it worked, but in the real world it did the opposite " leave children behind" As a teacher looking for a full time position to work my craft and skills, I have been closed out of the system I so desire to be part of so now I am looking for a position outside of my native country. It is in fact a nightmare for both students and teachers and hopefully when Mr. Bush is gone from office so will the nightmare of this law. |
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| I just graduated from a credential program in CA. and the no child left behind program is somewhat of a joke for many different reasons. I would like to say that the organizations that make all the tests, corrects all of the test are paid. I also want to say that most of our new text books come straight from Texas...where is George Bush from and all of his friends? I am done with my rant. There are many schools in the USA that need some form of watching because they are failing their students in ways that we in America believe can only happen in 3rd world countries. I also believe that their is a better way to do it than President Bush's No Child Left Behind because he tests every child in every school...even the students who are not, nor ever will be able to work at grade level. |
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The government thinks it works because they are not IN the classroom trying to teach. I have taught in the inner city and in the upper middle class suburbs -- the gap between who has and who hasn't has gotten bigger not smaller. The inner city still doesn't have the same opportunities/budget to provide the resources necessary for ALL children to succeed.
Of course, they both have to take the same state mandated test. So yes, inner city or suburb we are now forced to spend more time teaching to the test and that is even a greater challenge in the inner city because we have to work harder and longer in an effort to help the kids "pass". Therefore, in the long run, inner city kids are getting less time with actual learning (not to mention higher level thinking skills)and more time memorizing facts(so-to-speak)so they can pass the test. |
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I teach the kids who've been left behind my No Child Left Behind. I'm in Texas (where it started), and it's a vile system of teaching to the test, teaching students to pass a test, and administering a test that has absolutely no resemblance to reality. Do you know we test every students from grade 3 through 11, every year, for over a week? There's a week in May, 1-2 days in February or March, and any number of retests, pretests, special groups that are tested specially throughout the year... And if students don't pass it at key stages (grades 8 & 11 come to mind), they don't pass the grade.
Okay, if they don't pass this EXTREMELY SIMPLE AND LOW-LEVEL ABILITY, UNTIMED test, then no, they really shouldn't pass the grade. But THEN they're given about a million (really, 4-ish) opportunities to re-test. And if, in 8th grade, at least, they're too old to be in junior high school, they're going to start high school in the fall anyway.
It's all a ridiculous joke, and a teacher in the US (perhaps particularly in Texas?) can only pray that the legislation forced on us by non-teachers will be changed soon.
The problem is, teachers' jobs and pay depend on the outcomes of these tests so promoted by NCLB.
And let's talk about my students who are in seventh grade (and now, because of their age, will be passed regardless of ability, to either 8th or 9th grade next year) but cannot read. Those who are illiterate in two languages. Those who don't know the alphabet or can't count past twenty or don't know their times tables. The students I have EVERY SINGLE DAY.
No Child Left Behind?
Huh. |
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