From Deseret News archives:
No Child's inherent problem
However, the law also presents a conundrum difficult to ignore. Without this pressure from Washington, it is highly unlikely Utah schools would be taking the need for improvements seriously. The law exposed large inequities in Utah between the achievements of white and minority students. It also imposes real penalties for a school's failure to meet certain standards, which is something Utah lawmakers and school officials consistently have avoided doing.
Congress has begun debating again over how to change this law. Utah's delegation has its own unique ideas, ranging from Rep. Jim Matheson's detailed plan to loosen the requirements to Rep. Rob Bishop's desire to scrap the law altogether.
Given the new Democratic majority in Congress, the law isn't likely to be scrapped. A centralized approach to education seems here to stay. That's a shame.
At least, No Child Left Behind acknowledges that public education in the United States must improve dramatically in order to compete with the education systems in other nations. It recognizes that improvements aren't likely to come without the threat of sanctions.
Unfortunately, to drive that point home it also usurps the powers of local school boards and the Legislature two bodies that are much closer to the people of Utah than are the folks in Washington. Centralized solutions to local problems generally don't work. Contradictions and conundrums notwithstanding, that is the overwhelming problem with this law.
Recent comments
NCLB is a symptom of, and a part of, the problem. It is not the...
Tad Wimmer | Sept. 13, 2007 at 10:32 a.m.
Think about it! Has ANYTHING Mr. Bush pushed or touched been...
Bart Mortensen | Sept. 12, 2007 at 8:34 p.m.
No Child Left Behind = No Child Gets Ahead
And that's at the
heart...
Anonymous | Sept. 12, 2007 at 7:28 p.m.
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98
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