Saturday, March 26, 2011
Stage Five: Original Editorial
No Child Left Behind Act was created to help public education reach higher standards of teaching and learning by having standardized testing in each state for the students. The act aids the schools that are inadequate as well as rewarding money to the schools that surpass the qualifications with flying colors. Although not all the states are requiring these standardized tests, a majority of states are improving the ability and the skills of teachers that are not on a collegiate level. Many states are making it mandatory that teachers take tests for the subject they intend on teaching. I believe that while this act was intended to do good by the less fortunate, it is extremely harmful to the majority of the public schools. The schools that need the money from this act are not receiving it. The less fortunate schools are struggling to fund their programs that are lacking in participation because the curriculum is lacking. The schools that have a strong base curriculum do not have as hard as time raising funds because the participation is higher in those schools. Because of the standardized tests, teachers focus so much on the subjects on the test the students miss out on other aspects of learning and are forced to put all their efforts on a single test. While all these factors place high importance on the one test, is it really showing what students are capable of? As a student myself, I have taken these standardized tests and feel that tests like the TAKS show nothing. It is not challenging and I feel like they are a waste of time. What schools need are entrance and exit exams in each course using the curriculum that is taught in that course specific to that teacher. Only then we will know how students are succeeding and what the schools need to improve
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ReplyDeleteA controversial and much ridiculed subject in schools across America today is the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). As a largely under-funded mandate laid down by the federal government NCLB has placed more demands on a strained educational system without providing sufficient funds to implement it properly. In her article commenting on NCLB (http://governmentaccordingtolily.blogspot.com/2011/03/stage-five-original-editorial.html) Lily Streiff makes some important observations on the positives and shortfalls of the program.
ReplyDeleteMs. Streiff likes the premise behind the program and I agree with her. It is hard to argue that something intended to improve the education of children is not worthwhile. The program’s intent is to improve the American education system by increasing the standards for students and teachers. More qualified teachers should be able to create an environment where students can thrive. Thriving students should learn and understand more. To show growth of students and the effectiveness of teaching there needs to be something to measure. Standardized testing of subjects gives the government something to measure to ensure the program is working. This is supposed to create greater accountability.
Greater progress through accountability sounds great but Ms. Streiff makes a great point, “Because of the standardized tests, teachers focus so much on the subjects on the test the students miss out on other aspects of learning and are forced to put all their efforts on a single test.” Too much emphasis and importance is placed on the tests and it affects the whole school system. There is no motivation for a teacher to dive deep into a subject that interests their students if they are punished for student performance on a test that does not include such detail. Students are deprived of deep, enriching lessons that create greater interest and engagement simply because it won’t be tested.
While well intentioned, NCLB is not adequately funded to achieve goals that are themselves flawed. No Child Left Behind has unfortunately created an atmosphere and philosophy that may leave all our children behind.