The woman who helped write the No Child Left Behind laws says they aren't working.
The main idea was that all schools, rich or poor, be held to the same standards.
This process was left up to the states, but if they didn't make adequate yearly progress (AYP) they'd lose money from the federal govt.
The result is that the standards were lowered so all schools, rich and poor, made it over the standards.
12 comments:
She agrees with Freidman - globalization means we need to get American education on the right track. She thinks that "public schools and robust traditional curriculum" are key to social mobility.
One of the super interesting parts of this article is the fact that accountability is lowering the schools' standards. Usually, I'd think accountability raises standards.
It makes me feel good how somebody with so much prestige/power/influence is willing to admit when things are wrong, even when they are things she supported.
That's terrible that they lowered the standards so every school could meet them! Raise them, so that at least some schools will get on board and make a difference!!
It never did make much sense that they could test everyone at the same level. Math and science are not everyone's strong skills. Not to mention that people learn differently. Some people are visual learns were others are hands on. Art and music hone in on those right brain skills that Freidman talks about.
This idea way maybe good when it was first thought of but now, it isn't working and something needs to be changed. The schools that arent making the right standards probably need more funding for specialists and such over the rich schools who are excelling and getting better funding. Something is fishy with this idea. Besides that it puts unnneeded stress on students and teachers alike
Chelsey says it all. Lowering the standards was not the smartest thing to do, but what can you expect, as Americans we always look for the easy way out.
Every child has his or her own individual way of learning, some children are better in math and science while others perfer reading and writing. At least, that's how it's ALWAYS been for me. I think its ridiculous that schools have lowered their standards...
I agree with steve, Lowering general standards of education only tell kids that it is alright to be less than they can be, and will bring their schooling into a gradual decline of standards in the future as well. We need to maintain levels of education for those willing to do the work and be the best. Those who are willing be the best should not be forced to lower their standards just because some students fail to develop a work ethic.
I love how freedom of speech impacts everyone. It gives us as americans to speak about any given topic. Whether its blunt, cruel, the truth which can hurt. People are brave enough to speak freely.
acknowleding you have a problem is the first step after denial. IM glas she admits to the problem, i also think that yes all schools need to be held accountable. But schools with a larger non English as first language, need to have a curve because there is no possible way when you havestudents who come from MX their 10th grade year to be 100 fluent in the English language for the WASL. So the scores become skewed.
Finally someone agrees with Friedman. All of seen is people who hate friedman and all his wrong predictions. But we for sure need to get on track with education we are messing up America and are sending more and more jobs that could be american people working over to india so they can work. And steve then some kids dont have any chance!
Post a Comment