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unrealistic
Unless there’s a whole slew of Harry Houdinis available to work their magic in numerous school systems across the state, North Carolina will be faced with a mess as the state is forced by the Bush Administration to send No Child Left Behind consultants, teams and maybe even entire new administrative staffs to 40 to 60 school systems to “straighten them out.” (See related story on our home page).
Here’s one of many problems with NCLB: if one subgroup of students, classified by race, ability, etc., can’t cut the mustard, the entire school – and the entire school system – is penalized.
NCLB is a pipe dream – there’s no way schools can bring every child up to grade proficiency – but if the federal government wants to force the state to send consultants and teams to try, then bring ‘em on.
It is not without a financial and human cost. NCLB has caused tremendous strain on teachers and administrators to “teach the test,” and many teachers are sick of it.
Wouldn’t it be better to simply identify the students who need the extra attention and give it to them rather than cause all the upheaval and angst that NCLB has brought about?