Teachers and parents: How do you feel about the No Child Left Behind act?

Is it working?

Should it be reauthorized?

Have you seen any improvemnts in the students?

Has it affected your child in a positive or negative way?

Has it harmed creative teaching?

What are your feelings about it?

I'm doing a report and wanted to get some opinions.

Thank you.

(If you're a student you can chime in too.)

I feel like NCLBA has really messed up our priorities. The biggest complaint I keep having is that it disproportionately rewards test results and punishes schools that do not conform. The problem is by teaching students to take a series of tests, you waste a lot of time not helping them learn to think critically and rationally.

Also, by punishing schools that do not do well, you ensure continued failure. By not investing in schools that do bad, you remove a huge source of funding that is directly related to providing a better education.

The whole act is flawed, and I can not imagine an education system that is workable in the longterm under the constructs of NCLB. Testing has an important roll, but it is not to only indicator of academic progress.

I lived in Texas for a couple years when they were doing their version of it (TAAS), and now in Missouri.

Texas was just awful about it. Students had to be tested in certain grades, and a large portion of class time was devoted to "how to take the TAAS test". I would much rather see kids learning important things, like math and science, than test taking. Seriously, they were doing worksheets that said "this is the question you will be asked on the TAAS test, and this is how you should answer it."
I felt like my daughter, and most other students, were held back. Average and above average students did practice tests for most of the year, passed, and were bored. Below average students were given a lot of attention, and drilled on test taking skills. Result - a high percentage of kids could pass, but very little was actually learned.

I, too, was wondering what real effect it had on the education system and your post helped clear up a few things for me. Thanks! :)

I have a kid, but really haven't noticed any change better or worse. I agree that the test taking is wasting time when kids could be learning critical thinking skills along with the information they are supposed to learn in each subject.
Carly

Rote memorization isn't much of an education.

implementation in her school district in Southern California means teach the test, and nothing but the test.

Anybody who's in favor of NCLB is a clear failure of the academic system, and is unfit for any sort of position that involves decision making.

is only in kindergarten, but from what I see, it's not working and should not be reauthorized. Because of NCLB, it seems to me that the focus of schools has changed dramatically. Kindergarten is no longer a relaxed time of getting to know your classmates, how things are done in school and beginning to learn how to learn. I feel that my daughter is being pushed to learn to read and write so that she can take standardized tests. Actually, she had to know how to read the alphabet, write her name, write easy words, count and do simple math problems on entering kindergarten, because of the pressure to do well in standardized tests mandated by NCLB. She also has 20 minutes of homework a day - which of course her father or I have to either do or help with since she can't read the instructions. Good grief - homework in kindergarten. She is out of the house the entire day - we have full day kindergarten in Annapolis - and when she gets home she is tired and cranky, making for a lovely evening. I can't blame NCLB for her crankiness, goddess knows the child was born cranky and will probably die cranky, but certainly the full day kindergarten, the push to read and write in kindergarten and the emphasis on standardized testing doesn't help. I truly wish that NCLB would not be re-authorized and wither away.

Those poor children.

Is it working?
No.

Should it be reauthorized?
No.

Have you seen any improvements in the students?
Not from what I hear from local teachers.

Has it affected your child in a positive or negative way?
It's a stupid pita. NoelMN has learned (or rather NOT learned) three different ways to do the same damn thing, in math. They lose sight of the "basics", entirely.

Has it harmed creative teaching?
Yes. It effectively narrows the curriculum allowing for less creative pursuits/techniques in the classroom.

What are your feelings about it?
I hate it and the teachers at my son's school seem to hate it. Teaching to the test is a waste of time and energy better spent on establishing a strong base of knowledge of fundamental ideas. It's rather difficult to build on a shaky foundation of understanding.

Is it working? No.

Again, I will echo what I've read above my post. Just teaching to the test, plain and simple. And, as Leftymom said, rote memorization is not an education.



Should it be reauthorized?

Wouldn't that meet the criteria for insanity? Just repeating what one is doing and expecting a change?




Have you seen any improvements in the students?

No, but I have seen kids just learn how to take tests. Never mind their inability to think outside of how to bubble in the correct answer. My students weren't exposed to music and art, to the world outside of "how to take a test." Yep. This is preparing our kids for the real world.




Has it affected your child in a positive or negative way?

Negative. The amount of paperwork for the teachers alone has tripled. No, quadrupled. And I know it has to be that way for the administration, as well.



Has it harmed creative teaching?

There is no creative teaching. If your kids don't score what the NCLB mandates, eventually your district will be forced to adopt particular curriculum. For example, I taught in a "failing" district and was mandated to use Open Court for their Language Arts program. We had to literally read from a script provided by the publisher. We were given a schedule. If we got off that schedule for any reason... watch out. Here comes the administration from the district office to observe you and "help." Oh please. I was fortunate that I was never caught off schedule. In my class of 20 that year, 12 of my kids were born addicted. Many others were in foster care for things like, I don't know, being gang raped by a group of men your mother sold you to for drug money or witnessing a homicide your father committed. Yep. Let's stay on schedule. When my class had a meltdown, everything shut down for Room 20. This was a third grade general education classroom, not special ed and I had no teaching assistant. Fun.

Back to Open Court. The edition we were mandated had three to four hour Language Arts program. The school's schedule had to be adjusted to fit the program, meaning that my kids didn't get a recess break until three hours and fifteen minutes into the day. And we were limited on the number of bathroom visits simply because there wasn't the security required to keep our kids safe (we had some neighborhood issues and some seriously violent children on campus.) Yep. My kids were learning. Can you imagine reading a script to a group of 20 third graders who have lived the experiences mine had? I looked like an ass.And it gave the appearance that I didn't give a shit because I wasn't able to adjust my lessons to what my kids needed, but rahter what the script told me they needed. I had no choice, as each classroom was equipped with a speaker system that allow the office to not only make announcements, but listen in as well.

Notice my responses are in the past tense? I quit. I now work at a chartered independent study/homeschool. And while I still jump through the NCLB hoops of an independent study program, the pressure is on me and my own personal performance in completing my hoop jumping and NOT dependent on my student's ability to take tests.




What are your feelings about it?

I don't think words strong enough to express my hatred has been invented yet.


Feel free to ask or PM me any questions you may have. This is one subject I could rant about all day long.


kt

The speaker system enabled "them" to listen to you?! Scary. Where I work we're having the CTA come and talk about it and someone mentioned I should get someone in here who's for it. Who's for it?!!!!! I don't know anyone who is for it. The teachers at my kid's school hate it but yet they keep on giving gobs of homework. But since I have to get a counter point I contacted Nancy Pelosi's office, because she is for it! Damn. I swear these Democrats are turning into Republicans these days.

They are using it in my daughter's kindergarten class to teach reading. I don't know much about it, but so far I'm less than impressed.

There may be different editions, but the one I've used is just so dry and boring. It is repetitive, but without mixing up the skills so the kids have more of a variety of activities. While routine does have its place, OC (Open Court) just grinds this dull routine. There are limitations as to how teachers present the materials. I was literally instructed to read the script word per word to the kids. No deviation. Everything was very timed. I had 10 minutes for this section or 30 for that. And the Language Arts lessons were literally between 3 to 4 hours. That is a long time for third graders to sit still and do the same activity. It just was not structured to meet the needs of children. The idea of OC is to drill drill drill the skills into their little heads, but there seem to be no consideration into how children actually learn. And, in particular, it is "designed" (I use that term very loosely in regards to OC) to meet the needs of underprivileged children who may not have educational support at home. However, it goes against the very nature of the children I teach. When one of my drug babies had an episode, according to the "designers" of OC, I should keep plowing on, since the entire Language Arts block was scripted.

Now, in terms of your daughter, it depends upon the district. I know of other districts that used different editions and had different state-mandated restrictions so they were allowed to skip portions that were repetitive and make other choices. But, even the teachers from that district still despised OC.

Personally, I don't see what is so damn great about it. I have been far more leased with other curriculum I've used in the past. Allowing teachers to do their job and actually teach to their students needs instead of teaching to the test is what will improve education, not dragging us down with this ball and chain called NCLB around our necks. This is exactly why I am no longer in the classroom. I was just tired of the pressure and all the nonsense that came with it.

I was shocked to see how much time is alloted in kindergarten (kindergarten for crying out loud!) to "language arts". It's the entire morning, from 9:15 to 12:15. They get a short lunch and recess period 12:15-1 pm and a short "open learning" period after lunch, aka naptime. After that it's a few 15-20 minute periods of art, music, PE, math, science and computer lab. Well, we'll continue reading to her and hope that will help.

My bro too. They basically see it as "the death of creative thinking". Personally, I think it was an elaborate scheme to get Neil Bush's "edutainment reels" in the classroom.

WASHINGTON — The Education Department's inspector general says he will review whether federal money is inappropriately being spent on programs by a company founded by Neil Bush, the president's brother.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a Washington-based watchdog group, called for the inquiry and released a letter this week from the department's inspector general, John Higgins Jr.

In it, Higgins said he would ask an assistant to examine the group's complaint.

The group contends school districts inappropriately are using federal dollars for Ignite! Learning Inc. programs. It says there is no proof the company's products are effective and claims the schools are using the products due to political considerations.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071107/neil-bush-company/

One of the required parameters of NCLB is the amount of improvement over the previous evaluation period. A school that is doing everything required of it has no room for improvement and thus, fails. Failing schools are closed and the kids moved to other schools and the whole thing starts all over again. We've lost the best school superintendent we ever had in this county and the majority of good teachers because of it.

We all lose because of this piece of shit. But then, that was the idea behind it, wasn't it?

and she constantly rants about what a complete piece of shit it is.

All negative, no positive.

I could ask her to fill that in a bit more, since "it's a complete piece of shit" doesn't really work in a report. ;)

"You're just being emotional" is what I'd hear if I put that in.

I've heard her say "fuck" exactly one time, and it was about W in reference to NCLB.

And, no — it wasn't "I'd like to fuck him for implementing such a wonderful program."

right out of my mouth.

Basically, we have to take chicken shit and turn it into chicken salad. Yeah, that sums it up.

"Teach to the test"? Because that is what is happening. Forget critical thinking, abstract concepts, reading for pleasure and insight. Oh yes, and music. And art. If its not on the test, it isn't being taught.

Is it working? Should it be reauthorized?
No and no. It's forcing us into tests that distort the learning we're doing and forces us into teaching things and teaching in ways that don't really help a student do better in life. It's building in a need for conformity among teachers--I need to be teaching in my class the same thing that my collegues are teaching in their classes each day. Which kills my ability to design lessons that fit my style or meet the needs of the particular classes & students I have. It certainly keeps me from teaching to my strengths, which has always been project-based learning.
Research shows that project based learning better produces in higher order thinking skills for students and has a MUCH higher retention rate. Frankly, my classes this year are bo-ring for all the NCLB contortions we're being forced into.
We also have to do a lot of mandatory meetings each month to document to the feds that we're implementing an action plan to fix our school's deficiencies (a deficiency that was produced entirely by a paperwork snafu on the part of our administrators). In my subject area--social studies--we produced above-state-average results in last year's tests. But since the school fell short in other categories, my department is getting nut-squeezed, too.

The immediate effect of NCLB is to treat students and teachers like cattle and then run them all through a pointless bureaucratic maze of non-pertenant tests and arbitrary 'corrective measures' that only further impede actual teaching.

Have you seen any improvemnts in the students?
They're getting better test scores on standardized tests. Last year we moved our students from 89% passing rate to 93% passing rate in my topic (10th grade world history). These standardized tests are phuckingly inane, sadly, and we're "teaching to the test" in ways guaranteed to produce the short term impact NCLB demands. The problem is that there's no internalization of this learning and they won't remember any of it a year from now. It's hurting the kids.

Has it affected your child in a positive or negative way?
My daughter is a high performer at a middle class school. She isn't affected by NCLB. My students are being hurt by it.

Has it harmed creative teaching?
Hell, yes.

I don't know when it will be. I don't know how you will be done in. Justice moves slowly and without mercy. It will come. Wait... wait... it approacheth...

My mother-in-law is a retired elementary school principal and my wife is a teacher -- they both absolutely hate it.

forces teachers to teach to the test

hasn't done a damned thing to improve education

for one, we have to stop comparing our test scores in this country with other countries.

They segregate out "good students" from average and poor students

and they are comparing apples and oranges.

:shrug:

Hmm...great minds think a like eh?

In my school district, even with NCLB my younger kids still have P.E., music, art, computer class, and library time in elementary school.

It's a test of basic skills for goodness' sake. If a child can't pass the test, that's an indicator of a huge problem, imo. My older kids were smart enough that they never spent a lot of time learning how to take a test. They already had the skills, their teachers knew it, so they spent very little time prepping for it.

On the other hand, for kids who do learn at different rates, drilling for those basic skills does affect the more creative aspects of education, I suppose. Of course, nothing about public school suggests that there's a lot of accommodation going on for children who learn at different rates and in different ways. It's an uphill battle for those of us with kids like that.

although, I don't have to give the test because I'm an art teacher. I can just speak to the way all this emphasis on testing has decimated the arts programs (at least in our district). We offer the minimum that they can get away with in art and music. They have cut positions in art, music and PE. Elementary students get art once every 12 days (six day cycle) and they have eliminated elementary instrumental music. They even eliminated the elementary music teachers... the high school music teacher sees the kids once every 12 days to teach them some vocal music only.

Two things rule in education today: testing and the fear of lawsuits because of inclusion.

Rethuglican plot to make Rethuglicans out of everyone.

Just MY take on the whole mess.

She says that it makes it almost impossible to actually teach, because all anyone cares about the test scores in certain areas, which are required for recieving money.

As a professional, I have benefitted as a Science Writer, because all 50 states need new questions at different grade levels every year.

A good friend of my parents have an ADHD grandson. By 2nd grade the school informed the parents that this child would "benefit greatly" from homeschool, and that public schools were not equipped to deal with these types of children. As a result, the grandparents (retired) home-scool the child, who was up to grade level within a few months one someone who loved him was working with him.

My son is Tier 3 gifted (top 2% of students) and schools will do just about anything to get him to go there, because he makes the school look good.

Long story short, it sucks. I hope the next pres trashes it. What next, only the smart kids get public educations? GMAFB. (Give Me A Fucking Break) :-)