Reader comments
Schools may not get passing grade

NCLB discriminates against special education students and those who don't speak English.

It expects all students (regardless) to perform at the same level. Students who are tested and found to have learning disabilities do not have the same set of tools to succeed as their peers. The federal law protects them and they receive additional help through individual educational plans (IEP's). But NCLB will not allow any help when testing for it's standard.

Likewise, those students who cannot speak or read English well are at a disadvantage. No accomodations are made for them either.

By 2014, the NCLB law expects all students to pass the tests--no exceptions. How is that even theoretically possible?

If we are going to really hold schools accountable, then let's get that NCLB law changed so that the special ed and English language learners have a fair chance and discrimination against these two groups ends.

The worst educational policy of the century. No child left behind shoud be called, "Pass everybody so the presidnet looks good!". Just get rid of F's and D's and everyone will pass!. Blame everything on the teacher so the students that refuse to do anything, habitually misses school is never at fault. We can't leave anyone behind even if the student refuses to go!. Everyone must pass. Sounds like a plan I've read about in the scriptures!.

No Child Left Behind school failures are meaningless, unless the cause is also known. The failure of one student in certain minority classifications could cause an entire school to be put on the failure list, and still be one of the best schools in the state (public or private).

Bryan Bowles is playing games at our children's expense.

If these schools don't rise to the standards, then perhaps conditional vouchers should be provided for students at those failing schools to attend a private school.

It is hypocritical and unethical for educators like Bowles to be part of fighting against vouchers, but then to play bureaucratic games with the standards public schools are supposed to meet!

What an embarassment to Utah education.

1. Likewise, those students who cannot speak or read English well are at a disadvantage. No accomodations are made for them either.
YOU NEED TO LEARN ENGLISH TO RECEIVE CITIZENSHIP
2.Blame everything on the teacher so the students that refuse to do anything. BAN THE TEACHERS UNION AND PUT A PERFORMANCE STANDARD ON TEACHERS.

it is the job of the teacher to find a way, and quit making excuses for failing as a teacher.

if you can't cut it, find another profession.

To Anon at 10:33am:

To receive citizenship, yes you must be able to read English. However what about all the illegals over here that enroll their kids in schools?

They don't have citizenship, but we are providing money for all the illegals coming over here. They are not required to know English.

I propose a standardized test to be administered to one class, and the other class should have individualized testing.

As for the English comment: What good are LDS missionaries that are teaching ESL when it's apparent that they aren't doing their job either.

On your second point, I agree. The teacher's union whines too much, and needs to be dissolved. Too much money for too little performance.

You can't hold ALL children irregarless of race, social status, and disability to the same standard. It is not fair to our children.

Hey Anonymous, come on over and try your hand at teaching for a while. Stop throwing blame and try to fix it at our level. I am so sick of those of you who really have no idea what it's like blaming those of us who put our heart's, minds, and souls into education, and yes, the big, bad "Teacher's association" (it is not a UNION in utah)! Do something! Volunteer! Donate! Tutor! Or better - shut up and let us continue to try and do what we can with the poorest funded system in the nation that still tests near the middle! We take your constant rididule, your children's incessant back-mouthing, and our legislature's inability to fund our children's futures. Do something positive for once. Push for per pupil funding and the end of NCLB!

"it is the job of the teacher to find a way, and quit making excuses for failing as a teacher."

It is obviously the teacher's fault that a student is in his/her high school class that has never learned to read. It is obviously the teacher's fault that a kid comes to school having stayed up all night and just wants to sleep in class. It is obviously the teacher's fault that there are kids in classrooms that refuse to follow directions, behave, etc, etc.

Education starts in the home, not in the schools. You can't expect teachers to make up for every severe problem at home. We can help, but we can't fix everything.

I have been a public school teacher for 22 years, and to be frank, we can do much better!

I am surrounded by colleagues who are in a rut and continue to teach in the same ways year after year. They refuse to be measured on their performance as teachers.

That is the key - Measurement. Teachers must be measured and held accountable. Our "products" are educated students! If our "products" are defective or low quality, then our methods must be improved - no excuses!

I voted against vouchers, but if vouchers is what it takes to shake teachers out of their comfort zones, then we need to revisit that proposal.

I call on Utah teachers to step up, stop making excuses, and take our profession seriously enough to measure our performance!

There is no doubt that NCLB is far from perfect. But it is also clear that SOME kind of performance measure is needed. Let us remember that regardless of NCLB, we have 5 to 10% of our students dropping out before they finish high school. Of those that do remain in school to finish their senior year, some 25% are FAILING at least one of the STATE mandated basic competency tests even after as many as 4 or 5 chances to pass.

"Seasoned Teacher" is correct that teachers MUST accept some kind of measurement. We should not expect the same performance from disabled, special needs, or ESL students as we do from typical
students. On the flip side, we should not accept typical performance from gifted and talented students.

Real and meaningful school choice is ONE key aspect of improving education if for no other reason than that no one school or system will have to try to be all things to all students.

But we desperately need to devise and administer some kind of appropriate metrics of teacher, school and student performance. Teachers and their unions must stop opposing what is accepted in virtually every other industry.

It is difficult to speak for all teachers. However, I have taught math in the public schools for 15 years both at the jr. high and high school levels. I think it is fair to say that most of my colleagues genuinely care that their craft is improved and that their students achieve more.

True, there are some (small percentage) I have seen that feel their job is done during contract hours. Few other industries expect their employees to work beyond their paid day. To compare education to industry is a poor comparison.

As a teacher, I am trying to find ways to reach my students more efficiently and effectively. Learning occurs best when both sides put forth their best effort. Students must be willing to put in time outside of the classroom and ask for additional help when necessary. Parents must provide an environment for study at home. The distractions that exist today have an impact, no doubt.

Cell phones, electronic games, Ipods, etc., are everywhere. They steal from the time students used to spend reading and working together.

YOU NEED TO LEARN ENGLISH TO RECEIVE CITIZENSHIP, If you are born in the USA YOU are a USA Citizen. Just because your parents may not speak english and you have never been taught to speak the language has nothing to do with being a US citizen. If that is how you think , I would bet that you would not be here , because your great great family would have been kicked out. By the way do you speak Navajo, Ute , any true native language? I bet they thought the same way.

To the Seasoned Teacher, thank you for a well thought out comment and for facing reality as a teacher and putting something constructive into the minds of other commenters. I appreciate your comments.

I've been a teacher in Utah for over 25 years and I find your comments offensive and negative. NCLB is a start toward accountability and that's great. Problems begin when you expect everyone to reach the same criteria. The student who doesn't speak English, the neglected or abused student, the angry student, the student with disabilities...they must perform at the same level as the student who has a stable life? How is that fair? To anyone? It's hard being at school and learning when you never feel safe. Have you ever tried to teach someone to read when they're afraid? Afraid to be at school or afraid to go home because there's nothing there but sorrow? Measuring performance and growth is important. But we need to find appropriate ways to do it. We can't expect the same from everyone, but we can expect growth from everyone. Saying teachers are in a rut does nothing to help schools or children. How about mentoring one of those teachers who is struggling. How about being a positive influence in the lives of the staff...as well as the students at your school instead of calling anyone who doesn't meet your criteria of performing "defective."

Anonymous: You've oversimplified. Don't confuse "making excuses" with finding reasons. Only when we find reasons and address the problems in school can we make a change. There is always a reason a student scores poorly, it's our job to find out that reason and deal with it. One thing the NCLB and other legislation doesn't understand is that it is statistically impossible for all students to be reading on the third grade level. You all remember the bell curve. By design the standardization means that out of 100 students only one is on top of the curve and on grade level, the others, half are above the curve, half below it. We need to find new measures that fit our goals and stop trying to fit our students into a system that simply will not work for them. Public schools have the resources, and the ability to do it. Join your community council. Join the parent organizations. Become involved. Parents who care about education, and let their child know their expectations, tend to have children who care about education.
FYI: NCLB was legislation that began in the Clinton administration and George W made it his own.