|
By Jim Uphoff, Ed. D.
The July-August 2007 issue of School Board News had an article entitled, “NCLB beset by problems, research studies find.” Its lead paragraph read, “The panelists at a recent RAND Corporation-sponsored conference on the successes and failures of No Child Left Behind echoed what school board members and education experts have been saying for years—the goals of NCLB are praiseworthy, but the law is falling short in practice and implementation and thus doing an injustice to the nation’s students.
Among the injustices being done due to NCLB is the dramatic reduction of both class time and emphasis on the fine and performing arts in thousands of schools in the U.S. Here in Oakwood, our school leadership team has been very careful to block such “minimizing” of the system’s curriculum. While our students have continued to test well in the dozens of new tests, it has NOT been due to us reducing the arts.
The US House education committee chair, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) was quoted by the Washington Post last week as calling for “serious changes” in the NCLB law. He said, “The American people have a very strong sense that No Child Left Behind is not fair, it is not flexible and it is not funded. And they are not wrong.”
He expressed particular concern about the very sharp targeting of only math and reading which has led to actual reductions in other content areas which are also vital to becoming a well-informed and well-rounded person.
He is concerned about the super emphasis on “one-size fits all” testing, testing, and testing which has taken days of what used to be teaching and learning for the preparation for and taking of tests.
Again, our Oakwood system has refused to subvert our very successful educational program in such a way. Have we had to give attention to the testing? YES! Have the days now allocated for testing reduced the amount of instructional time of pre-NCLB years? YES! BUT we have made these two factors be as small an impact as possible.
It is very likely that both the House and the Senate will take up the NCLB renewal after they return from their August vacation. Please follow your news for how this law and its hoped for revisions work their way through Congress next fall.
Class lists for grades 1-6 at both elementary schools (Harman and Smith) will be posted on the school doors by 4 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2007.
Supply lists will be available at both schools from Aug. 8 until the beginning of school during school hours (8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.).
Pick up for Smith School supply kits will be Wednesday, Aug. 8 from 8:30 to 11: 30 a.m. Please come to the side door on Telford to pick up your kits. Additional kits for each grade will be available for purchase on a first come first serve basis.
Please call Loretta Kadash if you have any questions (294-4521).
top of page
|
