Watching Margaret Spellings on CSPAN now

[proud2BlibKansan]

She is the sec of education. She gave a lackluster speech to a school boards assn and now the school board members are roasting her with GREAT questions. She keeps saying "I have to leave soon" and "You need to bring this up with your congressional reps" LOLOLOLOLOL

Someone from VA asked her how reasonable it is to expect kids who don't speak English to take a test in English that shows they can't speak English.

And another person from Florida told her some of the best schools in Florida don't make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) on NCLB annual tests. She asked all the people present who had schools like that in their districts to stand up. And yes, most of the school board members in the room stood up!!

And yes, a guy from Michigan told her it was an unfunded mandate.

Oh please, DUers, once again I am BEGGING you to write your reps and get this goddamned law thrown out. Children are not only being left behind, they are being run over by this horrid piece of legislation.

Our kids need your voice. Write your reps today.

[marmar]

1. She's really horrible....

She also more or less said that kids from poor families really have no chance at a four-year college, and need to go to community colleges.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I missed the beginning

Man she really is awful.

[rodeodance]

3. I watched last evening. She is all into 'manageing" another failed

policy.


and she has the help of the Dems---like Kennedy who think throwing more money at the problem will be the solution.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Kennedy is very much opposed to what this law has become

I have corresponded with him. He hates this law. It's not what he hoped for. Not in the least.

[rodeodance]

5. He voted for it. The primary objective was to punish schools--and there-

fore the kids (and families).

He knew that from the beginning. No matter what the changes are--in the end it is families -----generally those without means and poor schools that are punished.

[rodeodance]

6. having said that, i do think Kennedy's intentions are noble--I have

mainly heard of his wanting more money for tutors.

For me, it is the underlaying premise of punishment that is the issue.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. And that was NOT part of the original legislation

They have twisted this into an evil piece of legislation. Kennedy spoke out in 2001 before it passed, but his voice was not heard. I still don't understand why he voted for it, but I am assuming that he was supporting the increased funding that was initially promised when NCLB became law.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. His objective was to help kids

The repukelicans turned this in to a law that destroys public education. They have also refused to adequately fund it.

The law Kennedy helped write and vote for is NOT the law that we have today. He is very concerned about that and wants it changed or thrown out as much as educators do.