bush is playing three card monty with No Child Left Behind

[Lone_Star_Dem]

I just read in LBN where he wants to add science to his pet project No Child Left Behind. That sounds like a good idea, after all science is vital to expanding young minds.

The problem is that since 2001 when he started his NCLB program many schools have been having to cut back on science in order to train students in the testing material of math and reading.

So what we have right now are some students who have been left behind in science due to NCLB's focus on math and reading scores if schools are to get their funding. Now these same schools will be punished because the children were not focusing on science.

I see this as yet another way that lower socio-economic school districts are going to be getting the shaft.

Today's story:
Bush Wants Schools to Progress in Science

WASHINGTON -
President Bush, quietly floating a plan with big implications, wants schools to face consequences for falling short in science, just as they do in reading and math.

The president's proposal would require schools to make yearly progress in science, adding a third high-stakes subject to a No Child Left Behind law that has thousands of schools scrambling to meet federal goals.

Congressional leaders say they are willing to consider Bush's idea when the law comes up for renewal next year, but that's as far as they will commit.

Science already is part of the law. Starting in the 2007-08 school year, states are required to test students' science knowledge at least once in elementary, middle and high school. But nothing in the law requires holds schools accountable for science scores.
More...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060329/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_science

LBN link to discussion:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2195264&mesg_id=2195264

Sunday's story:
Schools Cut Back Subjects to Push Reading and Math

SACRAMENTO — Thousands of schools across the nation are responding to the reading and math testing requirements laid out in No Child Left Behind, President Bush's signature education law, by reducing class time spent on other subjects and, for some low-proficiency students, eliminating it.

Martín Lara, a math teacher at King Junior High, said the intense focus was paying off for one of his students, whose skills were solidifying. More Photos >

Schools from Vermont to California are increasing — in some cases tripling — the class time that low-proficiency students spend on reading and math, mainly because the federal law, signed in 2002, requires annual exams only in those subjects and punishes schools that fall short of rising benchmarks.

The changes appear to principally affect schools and students who test below grade level.

The intense focus on the two basic skills is a sea change in American instructional practice, with many schools that once offered rich curriculums now systematically trimming courses like social studies, science and art. A nationwide survey by a nonpartisan group that is to be made public on March 28 indicates that the practice, known as narrowing the curriculum, has become standard procedure in many communities.
More...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/26/education/26child.html?ex=1301029200&en=2ac2867806003319&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss


What is taking place here is a slight of hand and a distraction trick to keep people confused as to the shortsightedness of NCLB and shift the blame on the schools/students.

The non-partisan report came out yesterday pointing out how schools were cutting back to make the grade, and today bush goes on record saying he wants to add science. He didn't mention that science had been being cut back due to HIS program, though.

Sorry, but he's 5 years too late for those kids he left behind.


Edit to add LBN link.

[madmom]

1. Is he talking real science or "church" science?

[RufusEarl]

2. The fact is the man doesn't know how to govern, period!

[FormerRepublican]

3. Crichton science?

[Wickerman]

4. What particularly sucks is that during the Clinton years

K-12 was making progress in Science Ed through Grants from the National Science Foundation. Through a well thought out. long range plan they aimed to increase Science scores via funding for materials and staff development. They knew deficits couldn't be improved overnight and were giving grantees all across the states time to work up. These demonstration sites would then inform plans to bring the whole nation up to speed and those who had made the improvements would offer their skills in on-going staff development with those who hadn't received training.

Results were promising, but Science funds were cut under Bush. :grr:

[RufusEarl]

6. Now Bill new how to govern, period!

[napi21]

5. There's obviously something very wrong with NCLB!

I know I'm old, but, when I went to school, THEY TAUGHT READING, MATH, SCIENCE, AND CIVICS!!!!!

You can't possible convince me that kids aren't just as capable today as they were then!

[RufusEarl]

7. I honestly believe they keep kids away from civics,

and it's on purpose. The less kids know about government and civics the better, i don't understand it but I believe it's true.

[napi21]

9. Oh I agree on the Civics thing. I have no idea why either!

But even that doesn't explain why they can't teach Reading, Math & Science all at the same time!

[wtbymark]

8. Any post about NCLB- I will post this...

"requires annual exams only in those subjects and punishes schools that fall short of rising benchmarks."

Fact: By the year 2012 NOT ONE school will pass the requirements, not ONE. The rising benchmark is 3% with a 97% attendence rate. Once a school reaches 100% (which is virtually impossible) they need to improve by 3% the next year or be placed on probation and the next year fed funds are cut/eliminated. PNAC plan to privatize education.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. I didn't know that

Thank you for filling me in. I'll add this to my list of facts on NCLB and why it's a hoax.

I agree that the end goal is to privatize education.

[gatorboy]

10. It's appalling what these people are doing to the eductional system.

Kids spend so much time on these governemnt tests, that they're flunking their regular studies.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

12. That's the reason schools were cutting back on other classes

NCLB suffers from a terminal case of tunnel vision in my opinion.

[Ino]

13. Just another ruse

to make Neil richer -- he gets to add science to his stupid software, then REsell it to the same schools.

[Horse with no Name]

14. I posted this yesterday

and was enlightened by things about NCLB that I did not know.
Take a look if you are interested.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=773614&mesg_id=773614

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. Thanks! I was without electricity yesterday due to storms and missed it.

Lots of good information in that thread.

NCLB is, in my opinion, intended to dismantle public schools. I also agree that pushing vouchers was the next step in their plan.

They forced schools to focus on the testing material or they would lose much needed funding. Now with this new turn of events they will be able to punish the same schools for jumping through the very hoops they created.

It's insane to imagine that they could get away with this, but it appears that they will.

I think Neil's thing is just another way to turn a buck at the expense of America while they push their agenda. More an after thought then the real plan.