Ask the Ass and the Elephant
Issue date: 1/26/07 Section: Ed-Op
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Question
"What are your views on American schools and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)? Do you think that it is working out? Do you think that is for the betterment of the American people?"
-A concerned Triangle reader
The Ass says:
I am pro American schools. The importance of good public education for our nation cannot be overstated.
The idea behind the Act is important: To end the "the soft bigotry of low expectations," as President Bush puts it. Unfortunately, the law he signed is deeply flawed, and I fear that it is actually hurting America's youth.
NCLB mandates regular standardized testing in math and reading, and then it punishes schools with low scores. The focus on only math and reading is too narrow. The reliance on standardized testing is wrong, as testing then becomes the goal of education - a perversion. To make matters worse, the Act does not provide any funding to schools to implement its many mandates.
The effects of NCLB have been dire. Schools have eliminated art, music and extracurricular activities so that they can spend more time teaching students to take a test - all because of the wishes of Washington politicians. It is ironic that the champions of states' rights did so much to tear control away from local school boards.
Our worst fears have not yet been realized. NCLB provides for students to leave schools that don't have high enough test scores. This means giving up on some schools while overburdening others. Instead, we should provide all schools with the support they need to improve for the betterment of all students.
Comprehensive educational reform is necessary, and it will take much more than the NCLB.
The Elephant says
Politicians chose between three options: federal dollars without accountability, accountability without federal dollars, or some combination. The Elephant advocates the fourth option: no federal involvement.
The Constitution gives Congress no authority to tax for the purpose of education. Even though Thomas Jefferson wanted federal involvement, he realized an amendment was needed.
Parents know what's best for their children, what they should learn, and where they should go. Choice is the only way to improve education and recognize that everyone learns differently - not a regimented system from a distant government.
The U.S. Department of Education cannot account for $450 million during three consecutive General Accounting Office audits. That is unacceptable in the private sector.
Bush advocates choice, but NCLB only transfers students from failing schools to other public schools. This only shuffles students from one bureaucratic monopoly to another. So long as parents lack choice in where they can send their children, no amount of government spending will solve the problem of education. It's weird that our friends on the left won't tolerate business monopolies, but are quite the defenders of education monopolies.
Choice for consumers and competition for providers are the only solutions.
"What are your views on American schools and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)? Do you think that it is working out? Do you think that is for the betterment of the American people?"
-A concerned Triangle reader
The Ass says:
I am pro American schools. The importance of good public education for our nation cannot be overstated.
The idea behind the Act is important: To end the "the soft bigotry of low expectations," as President Bush puts it. Unfortunately, the law he signed is deeply flawed, and I fear that it is actually hurting America's youth.
NCLB mandates regular standardized testing in math and reading, and then it punishes schools with low scores. The focus on only math and reading is too narrow. The reliance on standardized testing is wrong, as testing then becomes the goal of education - a perversion. To make matters worse, the Act does not provide any funding to schools to implement its many mandates.
The effects of NCLB have been dire. Schools have eliminated art, music and extracurricular activities so that they can spend more time teaching students to take a test - all because of the wishes of Washington politicians. It is ironic that the champions of states' rights did so much to tear control away from local school boards.
Our worst fears have not yet been realized. NCLB provides for students to leave schools that don't have high enough test scores. This means giving up on some schools while overburdening others. Instead, we should provide all schools with the support they need to improve for the betterment of all students.
Comprehensive educational reform is necessary, and it will take much more than the NCLB.
The Elephant says
Politicians chose between three options: federal dollars without accountability, accountability without federal dollars, or some combination. The Elephant advocates the fourth option: no federal involvement.
The Constitution gives Congress no authority to tax for the purpose of education. Even though Thomas Jefferson wanted federal involvement, he realized an amendment was needed.
Parents know what's best for their children, what they should learn, and where they should go. Choice is the only way to improve education and recognize that everyone learns differently - not a regimented system from a distant government.
The U.S. Department of Education cannot account for $450 million during three consecutive General Accounting Office audits. That is unacceptable in the private sector.
Bush advocates choice, but NCLB only transfers students from failing schools to other public schools. This only shuffles students from one bureaucratic monopoly to another. So long as parents lack choice in where they can send their children, no amount of government spending will solve the problem of education. It's weird that our friends on the left won't tolerate business monopolies, but are quite the defenders of education monopolies.
Choice for consumers and competition for providers are the only solutions.
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