" The Death and Life of the Great American School System : How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education"

 I just think it's amazing that anyone believed in NCLB.  First of all, All Men Are NOT Created Equal.  That being said, when environment, race, social status, poverty, and ancestry are factored in, it's a whole new ball game.

The biggest flaw in NCLB was the requirement that all students in every school MUST be proficient in reading and mathematics by 2014.  This wasn't just mandated for regular ed. kids with no problems.  This involved students with special needs.  It involved students who didn't speak English.  I had a boy in my fourth grade class who was deaf.  He was given an aide who didn't know sign language.  Most of her time was spent trying to act out what he was suppose to me doing!

2014.  This is our timetable for instituting a plan for all children in every school to reach 100% proficiency.  Due to this unreasonable plan, which has very little hope of success, many schools are considering privatization.

As a consequence of instituting NCLB, there will be little time to teach anything except reading and math.  This plan will also result in "teaching to the test."  In a neighboring county, a teacher was dismissed for "implying an answer was incorrect" while walking around the room, "monitoring student progress."

I know when I have to give a standardized test it is very stressful.  We have two teachers on staff who take personal days so they do not have to give the tests.  It has become a nightmare to many faculty members. 

We need to have a vision and set goals. I believe we, in Florida, need to develop neighborhood schools. We need to have a VISION of exactly w hat constitutes good education. We do not merely want our students to read and write. We want them to be good citizens, We want them to develop good values and have a sense of fairness and justice.

In New Jersey this year, voices at a school board meeting put a stop to one district's privatization of custodial services.  The time to act is upon us.  We must strive to make our schools the pride of our country.

Use your voice and speak up!  Our children are our future and we are the ones who need to guide them and make sure they get what they need for life in the 21st century!