The Case against No Child Left Behind

[TechnologyWitch]

Sadly, I happen to be a student, though thankfully I now homeschool. Being an advanced student in this stupid program was awful. It was boring as heck, because we were taught meaningless information that nobody was going to remember after the test (like having to know the capitals of other countries, which we had to learn in sixth grade). In sixth grade, we were still learning about commas and punctuation, as well as reading only one chapter of a novel per day. It was TORTURE!

[Confucious2012]

I think sometimes you need to play the game well so you can survive and then make sure you get in a position of power and then you talk!

[Confucious2012]

Awesome speech. I am a computer teacher and I used to do lots of creative projects and now I cant because of the districs asking to go ONLY by the curriculum. My kids used to love creative work. Shit! I wish I got the balls to say ENOUGH!

[peacelf]

If you say too much, you'll end up like me, no longer working in a public school. But, I don't care. I miss the kids, but i hate the politics that killed my and my students' creativity. More people have to speak up. Obama is a NCLB proponent. He wants to fund it better? HA! He wants the retardation system to work more effectively, that's all.

peace

[Elin48]

Bravo! You've said it like it is...

[Binnacas]

5 stars to you.

How does Bush dare to claim the act is working?! I'm so glad I'm not from America, but I'm very sad that american goverment is going down the stairs, taking so many people with it.

[peacelf]

Binnacas, thanks. I look to the Norwegian countries for solutions to our problems, since your country is much more progressive than ours, but we'll get there. Change is going to come and soon.

peace

[stupidgirl816]

Awesome! 5 stars and I am subscribing.

[peacelf]

For some reason, stupidgirl816, I believe there's some irony in your youtube name: ) Thank you for your generous comment and continue being curious.

peace

[bygINCpresents]

giroux and zygmunt bauman have so much to say about the state of modern life in all aspects.

[peacelf]

I don't think i read Bauman, but Giroux has been the most influencial person in my politics and life. I have used his theories and practices in the classroom and in my own political choices.

[bygINCpresents]

i offer a crude intro to bauman's ideas of "liquid modernity" in a playlist on my page called "OIL (Black and Liquid in Modernity). take a look. certainly read his books. eye opening. very similar to giroux.

[peacelf]

cont 5. Yes, eventually people will come around to change. However, I'm not sure how bad it needs to get before that change happens. I am hopeful, but I don't expect it to happen in my lifetime. Nonetheless, it is my responsibility to be an agent of change. In whatever I do, wherever I go, I should seek to change those around me by helping them think critically about their lives and experiences, so they can make honest choice about who they are and what they want in this world.

peace

[peacelf]

cort, cont. As a white male, I had to let go of my prejudices against people of color, women, etc. and understand that I see the world from a place of privilege. IOW, I had to see oppression for what is is. We live in an empire, like the Romans, Brits, Mongols, etc., that we white males have power and privilege over those who are not white and male. In order to teach others to be free, we must understand our privilege that makes us freer than most.

[peacelf]

Another problem with people who cannot think critically, a good argument can sway anyone without a philosophical/moral center from which to work. I see this with many right wing and libertarians. I also see angry, hurtful posts from young people who - while they have many reasons to be angry - lash out with a vengence on victims of the oppressive forces in our society. They blame the victims!

[peacelf]

cort, Good question. NCLB is an attack on computer age free thinking. However, the reason change is so slow is because free thinkers die and the new generation has to start learning all over again. Moreover, all this info can make young people cynical and feel powerless to change it. Unless, we (free thinkers) make a concerted effort to transform people, to get them to see love, compassion, JUSTICE and hope as viable philosophies to live by. All this info can make peop

[peacelf]

Ironically, NCLB has the effect of further dumbing down education by reducing critical thinking skills to text book questions and teaching to a few tests. Thus, a more ignorant populace is less likely to question what they are learning or know.

[tinchick2]

Thanks! I will look into that.

[tinchick2]

I agree with most of what you said...No Child Left Behind lowers the standards of education instead of raising them. It also blames teachers for students who refuse to try and stunts teachers from being able to teach how they want to. As a future teacher, I think that No child Left Behind should be disabled.

[peacelf]

tin, as a future teacher, I strongly suggest you read Henry Giroux. Usually Giroux isn't introduced until the masters level, but I began reading him as an undergrad in my spare time; well, actually while I should have been reading my assignments. Nonetheless, I discovered critical pedagogy through Giroux, and besides defining my pedagogy, it made me very well liked by my students.