Jonathan Kozol letter to Senator Kennedy on No Child Left Behind

[teacher gal]

Kozol recently met with Sen Kennedy to discuss NCLB and gave Kennedy a letter detailing his concerns. There is now a link to the Kozol letter: http://ed-action.org/content/KozolLettertoKennedy120507...

I think Kozol wrote a a beautiful and powerful letter to Kennedy and he is to be greatly commended for his work over the years to equalize opportunities for poor and disadvantaged children in urban communities. Mostly, I have nothing but praise for him.

One thing that has bothered me a little, however, is that he seems to assume that NCLB has wreaked havoc and destruction only in the poor inner city schools. Nothing could be further from the truth.

While I have no doubt its consequences are felt much more profoundly in those schools (and they have my deepest sympathy), the law's injustices, along with its destructive and demoralizing effects, are experienced in countless schools (thousands of them) all over the nation, even in small communities such as my own.

I wish that he would not (inadvertently) diminish the harm that has been caused all over the nation while at the same time rightly stressing that these effects are felt most profoundly in the poor inner city schools.

[teacher gal]

1. pretty quiet here tonight

on this forum I see.

[Mnemosyne]

2. Could you fix your link, pretty please, teacher gal?

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The requested URL /content/KozolLettertoKennedy120507 was not found on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Apache/1.3.37 Server at www.edaction.com Port 80


I am interested in reading this in the a.m., sounds good!

Thanks much! :hi:

[teacher gal]

3. OK!

Sorry about that! Go to http://ed-action.org/news.php?section=letters. From within the notes there you will see in blue the phrase "the letter Ihanded him". Click on that to get to the letter to Kennedy.

Hope that works for ya.

[Mnemosyne]

4. It worked. Thanks! An excellent letter!

I found this phrase one of the most telling, re: NCLB - 'draining every bit of joy and satisfaction from the act of teaching'. I have heard similar sentiments expressed by several teachers with the courage to say anything at all against the nightmare called NCLB.

All of his points are great, maybe the new Dem president in 2009, needs to offer this man the Sec. of Ed position. Point #4 is exceptional in its insight into the "shaming" and "humiliation" of students, staff, et al.

NCLB destroys the spirits of children and teachers, imo, and needs kicked to the curb quickly.

My 6 yo grandson was so excited to start school last year, after 3 years of preschool, and ended up feeling stupid. He's a bright, high spirited kid, but the pressure placed on the kindergarten and first graders is insane. Writing long dictated sentences in early elementary school?! Whatever happened to 'Dick and Jane'? I gave my grandson a new "Treasury of Dick and Jane" and he loves it! He read and read, carefully marking his place each time he stopped. I saw a renewal of hope in his eyes that maybe he isn't so "stupid", his words, after all.

He's had "bad reports" for talking. The teacher actually claimed he, "had no remorse", for freaking talking a bit? He was supposed to feel ashamed for not being a good little robot! Unfreakinbelievable!

The corporate gov just wants to produce their little "bricks in the wall", with no regard for childhood. It is heinous and despicable to expect that kids will learn well under such pressure. And my heart goes out to the poor teachers losing their sparks of joy; thanks to this asinine law.

Thanks for sharing this article, tg! Welcome to DU, btw! :hi:

[teacher gal]

6. Thank you so much!

You have said it well. And thank you for the welcome. Can I ask a favor? If you have not already done so, go to http://www.educatorroundtable.org and sign the petition to dismantle NCLB. I am a founding member of this organization and we were the first to call for abolishing it and starting over with legislation that returns power to parents/teachers/communities.

Oh, and I started a little blog of my own if you want to check it out. It analyzes the attacks on public education from a different perspective. If you would like to check it out go to http://aplacetorespond.blogspot.com/

I'm totally new to blogging...just learning.

I feel much compassion for your grandson. You are so right that the pressure being placed on these precious children is cruel and insane.

Thank you so very much. Spread the word.

[Mnemosyne]

9. I'll gladly sign every petition there is to help dismantle

this nightmare. Oops, already signed it! lol

I look forward to checking in on your new blog. We need more educators spreading the word. Great luck to you! :woohoo:

Thank you for your kind words for my grandson. He is one of the most thoughtful and caring 6 yo's I've ever met. How many kids are suffering from this 'legislation'? One is one too many, imho.

[Mnemosyne]

5. Maybe cross-posting this in GD will draw more replies.

Just a suggestion for such an important topic.

Rural schools suffer much also.

[teacher gal]

7. I did

post it on General Discussion:Politics and kept a conversation with myself going for a while to keep it near the top where it would get noticed...I'm learning! It has gotten a few views. I'm gonna go make one more comment on it now before I go to bed.

Good night!

[Mnemosyne]

10. Such an important issue, kicking for more visibility. n/t

[flashl]

8. I strongly agree with Jonathan’s observations.

[Sabriel]

11. Thanks, teacher gal!

It's perfect for the Intro to Ed class: NCLB and race/social class issues.

It'll be a good one to pair with the Palast one:

http://www.gregpalast.com/no-childs-behind-left