http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2007/11/21/no-child-left-behind-upon-closer-inspection/ Serving Carrboro and Surrounding Communities Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:24:59 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2007/11/21/no-child-left-behind-upon-closer-inspection/comment-page-1/#comment-98449 Scott Kennedy Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:09:25 +0000 http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2007/11/21/no-child-left-behind-upon-closer-inspection/#comment-98449 While NCLB attempts to address the need for "better" education, it seems to me that it has created a standardization that is able to be represented in numbers and data that serve to formulate an equation for receiving funding from various agencies, mainly the Federal Government. As a Middle School Math teacher my recent credential, has more than prepared me to teach a rigorous approach to the academic. Our universities and colleges prepare us for the job of teaching. Requiring more on the part of teachers is somewhat redundant. Hire great teachers from the get go and the worries of "if the teacher is highly qualified" will end. The problem is that there are not that many teachers available and many are taking early retirement, without having adequate replacements available. Teaching is a "calling" not a job. It is a career, not trade. To be a teacher calls for the complete investment of your mind, heart and time. With NCLB my time is now diverted from the education of my students and placed on meeting the testing requirements set by NCLB. American teachers teach the World's students, not just our own. We have over 96 languages and dialects as communication hurdles to get over before we can even begin to teach. Not to mention the various cultural differences to take into consideration. Oh and did I mention the ongoing disrespect from the students themselves that is fostered by the lack of support for the teacher by the parent/s. The ongoing theme seems to be that the working parent will rescue their child from the big, bad, strict teacher. The Congress might want to consider a NCLB with parents and guardians during its next session. Sincerely, Scott Kennedy While NCLB attempts to address the need for “better” education, it seems to me that it has created a standardization that is able to be represented in numbers and data that serve to formulate an equation for receiving funding from various agencies, mainly the Federal Government.
As a Middle School Math teacher my recent credential, has more than prepared me to teach a rigorous approach to the academic. Our universities and colleges prepare us for the job of teaching. Requiring more on the part of teachers is somewhat redundant. Hire great teachers from the get go and the worries of “if the teacher is highly qualified” will end. The problem is that there are not that many teachers available and many are taking early retirement, without having adequate replacements available. Teaching is a “calling” not a job. It is a career, not trade. To be a teacher calls for the complete investment of your mind, heart and time. With NCLB my time is now diverted from the education of my students and placed on meeting the testing requirements set by NCLB. American teachers teach the World’s students, not just our own. We have over 96 languages and dialects as communication hurdles to get over before we can even begin to teach. Not to mention the various cultural differences to take into consideration. Oh and did I mention the ongoing disrespect from the students themselves that is fostered by the lack of support for the teacher by the parent/s. The ongoing theme seems to be that the working parent will rescue their child from the big, bad, strict teacher.
The Congress might want to consider a NCLB with parents and guardians during its next session.
Sincerely,
Scott Kennedy

]]> http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2007/11/21/no-child-left-behind-upon-closer-inspection/comment-page-1/#comment-25084 Katrina Best Fri, 23 Nov 2007 05:39:09 +0000 http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2007/11/21/no-child-left-behind-upon-closer-inspection/#comment-25084 Jonathan Kozol is looking for support in changing the mind of Senator Ted Kennedy. In a talk held at Illinois State University, he urged everyone in the audience to write letters to Senator Ted Kennedy addressing No Child Left Behind. Please write!!! Kozol needs your support, as he will be meeting with Kennedy very soon to discuss this topic and do all he can to change it! Thank you and God bless! http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=13759 (very helpful website) Jonathan Kozol is looking for support in changing the mind of Senator Ted Kennedy. In a talk held at Illinois State University, he urged everyone in the audience to write letters to Senator Ted Kennedy addressing No Child Left Behind. Please write!!! Kozol needs your support, as he will be meeting with Kennedy very soon to discuss this topic and do all he can to change it!
Thank you and God bless!
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=13759 (very helpful website)

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