Another victim of NCLB

[Justine Cooper]

You know what is really interesting is I am in a Curriculum class right now that is designed to teach us how to teach and how not to teach. The how NOT to teach includes what they call "coverage" which is basically a class of straight lecturing, trying to cover all the book assigned without regard to student input, creative ways to remember lessons and make it relevant to life. Most of us grew up with a lot of this teaching unfortunately.

However, while the idealists, like myself, who are not currently teaching, are cheerleading the efforts to make teaching more creative and relevant, the people in the class who are already teaching are screaming "How can we do that when we have to get our students to pass the OGT's?"

Of course we need tests to see how our students and teachers are doing. But how they are set up, what they test, the fact that students with all disabilities are expected to test the same, and the fact that school districts lose money when faulty report cards come in, is need of serious change. Change that should come from panels of successful educators. But never from politicians, some of whom never attended public school.

[Danielle Masters]

Of course we need tests to see how our students and teachers are doing. But how they are set up, what they test, the fact that students with all disabilities are expected to test the same, and the fact that school districts lose money when faulty report cards come in, is need of serious change. Change that should come from panels of successful educators. But never from politicians, some of whom never attended public school.

This is the part of NCLB that infuriates me. It should be the opposite, schools that need the most help should be receiving extra funds to help them catch up, but instead richer districts are awarding for DUH doing well. It doesn't take one with a masters degree to understand that one of the main reasons that students do well in wealthier suburbs do well is because they have the best materials and there is generally more parent involvement. In some of the districts that are suffering and being punished for it there is minimal parental involvement. Many of those schools lack adequate teaching materials like books and many times students come from household where their parents never received much education. If we as a nation want NCLB to continue some changes need to be made. Schools/districts cannot continue to be punished for not doing well, NCLB needs to be fully funded. It seems the whole premise of NCLB is to leave no child behind but that is exactly what is being done the way the law is structured.

[Jim O'Bryan]

This is the part of NCLB that infuriates me. It should be the opposite, schools that need the most help should be receiving extra funds to help them catch up, but instead richer districts are awarding for DUH doing well. It doesn't take one with a masters degree to understand that one of the main reasons that students do well in wealthier suburbs do well is because they have the best materials and there is generally more parent involvement.

Danielle

While I agree with your thoughts about those needing it. It also plays right into Bill Call's hands with the amount we(Lakewood) are spending on each student already.

FWIW


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[Justine Cooper]

The ONE thing that BOTH parties agree with, is the NCLB needs to be re-written!!! Bush refused because it was like he had to admit he was wrong! He doesn't care that the cities that need the most help for their schools are the ones suffering! What is Bush's biggest failure, Iraq, Katrina, NCLB, the housing market? It all runs together and we are all paying. Now our children have to pay too.

As for the previous argument about teachers should work through the summer-it is all relative!!!! When you graduate with a teacher's license at the bachelor level and start at low thirties, or graduate with a master's degree and start at the high thirties, both YEARS of committed work in school AND thousands of dollars in school loans-you are getting paid for the time you work! If you want year round, better round up more money to pay the teachers! I could make more as a secretary with no college if I stayed there! And I know people working in offices who never went to college easily making $40,000. Teaching isn't a job, it is much, much more than that and anyone who says they are overpaid or should work more (also forgetting all the time at home doing lesson plans and grading) has NOT worked in a school lately. And why don't you ask how many teachers get summer jobs to supplement their income? If you think saving money by cutting salaries of teachers or increasing the work year, better start shipping in teachers from India like Cleveland did when they couldn't find any. How did that work by the way?

[Shawn Juris]

Thank you for the thought about curriculum and course options, Will.

[Missy Limkemann]

Let's not also forget the teachers getting bit, slapped, punched, kicked etc everyday. When I was an aide in a special needs class, I had a child that bit me and tore a chunk out of my arm. Tetnus shot, stitches later, I was back to teaching the next day. I was an aide so I know I did not make the money the teachers were making.
I think teachers should be paid so much more. They are educating our children, you know our future, shouldnt we respect them more, pay them more, and cherish them more? I know I do.

And having a special needs child, I know that with NCLB he is going to be the creepy 30 year old in 5th grade because there is no way he can be on the level that these "tests" want him to be.

[Danielle Masters]

You bring up another good point about the faults of NCLB. With special needs children the parents and teachers know what these kids are capable of. We know what level our children are working at and some age appropriate test doesn't account for the fact that special needs children aren't necessarily going to be able to work at that level. I don't expect the school system to magically get my children to be at the same level as their classmates, I know that in certain areas my boys will never catch up and I am okay with that because I do want the best for them but I also don't want them to feel pressured to work at a level that they just aren't capable of. The whole system is frustrating, especially when we have bureaucrats telling us what is best for our children and they haven't set foot in a classroom for ages if ever.

And to Justine's point about the pay our teachers get I agree. We entrust our children to these wonderful men and women, we trust them to teach and nurture our children and then for many of them they get low wages. I would never say our teachers are over-paid because I think they have one of the most difficult jobs out there. I really admire them because I know I couldn't do what they do day in and day out.

[Dave Mechenbier]

This thread would make someone believe that NCLB was about education.

Isn't it really about breaking the teachers union so "choice" can prevail? Yes, there are ineffective districts in the country but this is no way to punish districts that are diverse (whichever way you define diverse).

Although we have had our challenges with special education services AND some battles with high school programs we have been very pleased with all our district offers.

My disclaimer: 4 kids, 1 a graduate of Lakewood schools, 3 to go!

[Dee Martinez]

You left out the special needs children Lakewood takes in from Rocky River, Westlake, Fairview, and Bay that also brings our grades down, while allowing those cities to skate through with higher marks.

It is another farce brought to you by GWB.


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I am not sure this is an accurate statement.

Mr. Markling, are other districts "dumping" special needs children into Lakewood schools and are we being evaluated on their performance?

[Ryan Salo]

It is another farce brought to you by GWB.

Can congress stop this or is it completely up to GWB?

[Jim O'Bryan]

It is another farce brought to you by GWB.

Can congress stop this or is it completely up to GWB?

Well GWB heralded it in. Right?

Hammered it, worked not to fund it.

Yes congress can work to stop it, but I have more faith in the Lakewood School systems joining the lawsuit against the federal government for mandating things then do not finance.

Largest charter school companies give heavily to? Who wins in this?

Certainly not the kids, the school system and Lakewood.


FWIW


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[dl meckes]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar ... on-bl.html

Clinton had something to say about it earlier this year...

[Ryan Salo]

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2001-145

Interesting - even your buddy your pal Dennis voted for this.

But it sure is easier to blame the top guy, especially since it was such a close vote, he must have pushed it over the top...

35 R's voted against it and only 10 D's.

Interesting.

[Tim Liston]

This may be a teeny bit off-topic, but when NCLB is discussed, there is often reference to “unfunded mandatesâ€￾ and the assertion that the federal government should not mandate NCLB if it is not also willing to fund it. I don't agree with that. For example, the Clean Air Acts and Clean Water Acts, those are unfunded mandates, right? But few would argue that those Acts are inappropriate and I don't hear “unfunded mandateâ€￾ and “Clean Air Actâ€￾ in the same sentence as I do “unfunded mandateâ€￾ and “NCLB.â€￾

Now there is a lot not to like about NCLB. Heck there is a lot not to like about traditional education generally, and I have discussed that on other occasions. But the fact that NCLB is not funded by the federal government is largely irrelevant, in my opinion.

[Jim O'Bryan]

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2001-145

Interesting - even your buddy your pal Dennis voted for this.

But it sure is easier to blame the top guy, especially since it was such a close vote, he must have pushed it over the top...

35 R's voted against it and only 10 D's.

Interesting.

Ryan

I am going back and looking at the full bill. While OUR friend and the 10th District's Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who just saved jobs in Lakewood while creating another 160 jobs in Lakewood, voted for it. He has rallied against it since it was put forward.

Which makes me wonder, was it a mistake? Bad Choice? Caried out poorly? Filled with a bunch of other stuff, or did it place an unfair burden on the 10th District since starting. I will be more than happy to call OUR congressman and ask.

Tim

I have to think as the federal government cuts back funding to states, and states cut back funding to cities and schools. That some, including many in the Lakewood School System seem like it is an unfair financial burden on the system. Now I do not really have a dog in this fight. I support Lakewood schools, and education. But make no money from either. How about you? do you have a dog in the fight? Firm believer in charter schools? It would seem NCLB works heavily against metropolitian and inner ring school systems, which eventually have the right to turn them over to charter school companies for running. I could be wrong.


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