No Politics Left Behind in Education Debate

[teach1st]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-na-schools25jan25,1,6700915.story

Los Angeles Times, 1/25/04

WASHINGTON — President Bush's much-heralded education reform plan, his first domestic policy accomplishment and one of his most important, is in danger of becoming as much a liability as an asset in his reelection campaign, observers from both political parties say.

The 2002 law, known as the No Child Left Behind Act, has come under fire from school officials around the country as they labor to comply with its tough requirements and find the federal government is providing less money than the law promised.

"This is a big, big problem," said one House Republican, who spoke privately about being inundated with complaints from educators in his district. "The goals and requirements are just not attainable. It is going to hurt the president politically among school people, people who are elected to school boards, community leaders."

The law is the cornerstone of one of Bush's signal political accomplishments: He has helped Republicans win increased public confidence in their handling of education, an issue Democrats have traditionally dominated. In January 2002 — around the time Bush signed the law — a Washington Post poll found that 71% of those surveyed approved of Bush's handling of education.

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[DarkSim]

1. 71%!!

omg. How is it that many?? I'm sure non of those 71% are in school or have children is school....

[teach1st]

2. That was two years ago....

This is now:

"And, with Democratic presidential candidates relentlessly attacking Bush's education record, a Post poll last month found that Bush's approval rating on the issue had dropped to 47%, the first time it had fallen below 50%. "

[baby_bear]

3. "no child left" is more like it

My sister, a high school science teacher, says that is how all her colleagues refer to it.

Apparently Bush is a joke as far as teachers are concerned.

And teachers vote!!

s_m

[salin]

4. or... "no child let to thrive"

I hope that folks in the schools - when parents complain about wasting student time on dry drill and kill test-taking strategy instruction rather than on challenging lessons/activities - keep pointing out... "This isn't what we would choose to do - to dumb down your child's education - but it is required by the president's NCLB program.

Or when a populat teacher is let go because they don't have a specialized license in Art - even though art has nothing to do with the tests - that folks let complaining parents know... "This firing has nothing to do with the quality of x teacher... it is mandated by the presdient's NCLB program."

Or when parents complain because there are no more field trips... the are reminded "Unfortunately our budgets have been drained in order to keep in compliance with the president's NCLB program".

[Toots]

5. A dollar to a doughnut it will be Labeled the Kennedy Bill

Bait & Switch

[Pikku]

6. too late for relabeling now... Bush is stuck with NCLB

As a teacher, I'll be looking closely at candidates' positions on NCLB. I want them to say that they'll get rid of it.

I DON'T want to hear that they will "fully fund" it, as if the fundamentals of NCLB are in any way sound.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. LEARN...or else.........

www.alfiekohn.org