AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2007 > June > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSchool Yourself On NCLB
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I just got a major reality check as I perused this new poll on the public’s opinions and knowledge about No Child Left Behind.
Because I deal with these issues on a regular basis, I sometimes forget that — even after five years — loads of Americans still have no clue what NCLB is or does.
Of course, I understand why people without connections to public schools could be ignorant of President Bush’s signature education reforms. Honestly, my own mother might not know what it was all about if she didn’t read my stories.
But what really blew me away was that fully half of the parents surveyed — those who actually have children enrolled in K-12 schools — failed to demonstrate a basic understanding of the law.
“…[W]hen presented with four possible NCLB descriptions,” the report states, “less than half (47 percent) of the public correctly associated NCLB with standards and testing. It was almost exactly the same for parents of children in K-12 schools (49 percent).”
Maybe I should feel heartened that the numbers knowing the correct answer approached 50 percent. But I can’t help wondering what would happen if the other half started paying attention.
Comments
By teach overseas
June 19, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
That is how we teachers feel in the classroom! Welcome to the club Bridget!
By luvs2teach
June 19, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this
Well, I’ve shared the story of more than one parent (and student) who thought “No Child Left Behind” meant that no child could be held back.
So much for catchy titles!
Thoughts on reading the report:
Seems like most people, parents and teachers, agree that what NCLB is trying to accomplish is positive. However, teachers in particular thought major changes were necessary befroe reauthorization. I’d agree - some parts are very good (particularly having “highly qualified” teachers) - some are ridiculous (ESOL students taking the math test consisting of WORD problems).
I thought it was interesting that 59% of the public would have all 50 schools adhering to national standards rather than state-based…hmmmm, yet, teachers supported the state-based standards more.
Amazing! ALL groups agreed that the number 1 problem facing schools in…parental involvement!* Lack of funding and discipline were split for second.
Very interesting to me - 66% of teachers and 77% of administrators would give ESOL students up to 2 years before having to test in curriculum areas - the general public only 32% wanted that. I don’t know if that a reflection of the “English only” sentiments in our country right now, but even more surprising was that only 25% of the Spanish survey takers wanted that.
to me that indicates a fundamental misunderstanding by the general public of the difference in learning a foreign language for conversation and learning one for academic comprehension. I’ve been taking Portuguese for 1 1/2 years now - I can carry on a conversation, read a simple news article, and watch a little TV. I couldn’t pass a test in SCIENCE, which I TEACH, if it were in Portuguese.
Slightly less than 50% of parents and teacher gave the schools a ‘C’ - I’d be in that group.
The grass in greener on this side! Most people graded their own school (that they either worked at or children attended) higher than “public schools” in general.
That’s a trend that’s held for a long time.
26% - one fourth - think that no child left behind means no child left back. I knew I didn’t make that up.
I thought it was a positive sign that no group thought a “one dose cures all” blanket solution was what was needed to fix ailing schools. most epople thought more funding and smaller class sizes would help - I was surprised that even the general public did not support wholesale changes of administrators or staff, even when a school is failing.
I wish the report had asked about proposed changes. I, for one, would like to see a multi-dimensional assessment of a school. There are schools in this state which don’t pass AYP due to a high ESOL or SPED population, and yet produce high SAT scores. There are districts that are in Needs Improvement, yet have ITBS scores above the national norm. There are schools that receive high marks for SACS accreditation, and yet are Needs Improvement. That makes no sense to me.
By Larry
June 19, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
Not to dishearten you Bridget, but if they presented four possible answers, 25% would have picked the correct answer if they didn’t know the question. It’s reasonable to think less than 25% actually knew anything about NCLB, which is a lot closer to my experience.
When the AJC ran a story about possible NCLB sanctions concerning Gwinnett schools, I received a dozen or so emails from parents asking about their situation and options. None - not one - was aware the school their kid attended had previously failed to make AYP, and most were only vaguely aware of what it was.
Your failure to invite me along on your vacation in no way diminishes the importance of your blog. If only a couple parents “get it” after visiting, it makes it all worthwhile.
Specific to your question, if most parents understood NCLB, I expect the top priority for many elected officials would be finding a medically sound procedure for removing tar and feathers.
By Dan
June 19, 2007 5:58 PM | Link to this
For a long while I have been on this blog, chastising folks for blaming the federal gov for what ails the program. When as indicated by this poll/article it is primarily at the state and local level that the specifics of programs measurement and testing are set. In a nut shell the program simply demands accountability. No proof of perfomance no funds. It is also encouraging to hear that the majority of teachers and administrators approve of at least the concept. If you were to poll this blog I suspec the numbers would be inverted. and lastly while education is clearly an important policy topic. Federal funding only comprises about 8% of a schools budget, if the locals really think that NCLB actually costs more than they receive they don’t have to abide by it. The truth is that it serves as a convenient excuse to blame someone else
By Janine
June 19, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this
This lack of awareness about NCLB…this apathy…this whatever name you wish to assign…is typical the total lack of knowledge/awareness/interest in/ whatever happens to be going on …. of the people of our country. More people know who is competing on American Idol than know who their senator is. Why?? For me , unanswerable. Is it because of the proverbial Hierarchy? It is not until one has satisfied the needs for food, shelter, security,..the basics…that one can move on to more lofty isssues…Just unanswerable.
By Martina
June 19, 2007 7:02 PM | Link to this
“26% - one fourth - think that no child left behind means no child left back.” Ahhh - now it makes sense! We had a couple of parents argue in retention meetings this year that it was a law that they had the choice in retaining their child. Maybe this is where they got the idea!
By SET
June 19, 2007 7:16 PM | Link to this
It really doesn’t matter what the people think. NCLB was written by people with an agenda. We can only infer what the true agenda was by looking at the direct and indirect results of NCLB.
Let’s see. Dumbed down curriculum, Districts cheating on test scores, expulsion of children likely to bring the numbers down, collection of data nationwide on racial non-performances.
Looks like another Federal Power Grab to me. Doesn’t look like NCLB was intended to actually directly improve public education.
There’s a jury instruction that states that people (meaning the defendants) are presumed to intend the logical results of their actions. Others may say that “there are no accidents”.
By terry
June 19, 2007 7:21 PM | Link to this
The problem in Georgia - parents are afraid to be involved, afraid of retaliation on their kid - real or perceived — I don’t know. But I certainly know there is retaliation on teachers
By Janine
June 19, 2007 7:34 PM | Link to this
Terry…It has not been my experience that, as you believe… “parents are afraid to be involved, afraid of retaliation on their kid - real or perceived — There are parents who will raise the roof to get what they want..right or wrong…and they do…and those who don’t want to be involved at all..[having nothing to do with retaliation ]. There are also those parents who are reasonable and want to be involved in their child’s education…[of course, a lot of the children of this type of parent are in private schools.] “Retaliation against teachers”….it is rampant!
By Lee
June 19, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this
Good grief;
A survey commissioned by the Educational Testing Service conveniently concluded that the public is in favor of reauthorizing the NCLB law. Hold the presses. I never would have guessed that.
As to whether or not there is a hidden agenda behind the NCLB, I don’t know. I do know that one of the first rules of politics is to create a crisis. You create a large enough crisis, and you can just about pass any law. Unfortunately, public education in this country provided an easy target of opportunity by graduating barely functional illiterates.
Next step is to coin a catchy phrase. So, you are against No Child Left Behind? Oh, so you WANT our school aged children to be left behind.
See how it works.
Me? I’m of the opinion that there has been an ongoing push for federalizing everything, and it has been ongoing since 1872.
P.S. Most parents don’t give a crap as long as little Johnny or little Suzie is making decent grades and the football team makes the playoffs.
By thomas
June 19, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this
As for the issue about the effect NCLB has on ESOL, only educators care (and then only 66% of teachers). The reality is that this nation really cares nothing about immigrants or the students of immigrants. This is why we see only 32% of the general public wanting to give students two years before they should be required to take state tests. In reality, most people want these kids to “sink or swim.” They care nothing about these people and their children. They are all wetbacks and gooks to these people and don’t want to see a dime of money or ounce of resources spent to help them.
My belief is this— If you don’t want the people in the country, fine. But you can’t have it both ways. You cannot call yourself a “conservative”, a “patriot”, support big business and corporations who hire illegals and immigrants over native Americans, want to hire immigrants as janitors, housekeepers, lawn maintanance people, nannies, cooks, restaurants workers, etc, then want to deny these people basic human rights. You can’t deny the children an appropriate and fair education (this goes from preschool to college).
But many sickening HYPOCRITE BIGOTS want to do just that. You cannot have it both ways. It is extremely evil, selfish, and cold hearted to do so. Mean spirited and selfish Americans should do the right thing- either stop supporting the businesses, corporations and politicians who want to hire immigrants over you and I or be fair and allow the people basic human rights and give their children a fair education.
The hypocrisy makes me sick. If these same maggots had been against the people moving over here from the very beginning, I could understand it. But don’t talk trash now about border security, deportations, and hurting kids in schools through removing language support and tuition assistance. DON’T TALK ABOUT THROWING ANYBODY OUT!!!!!!!!!! IN SCHOOL OR OTHERWISE!!!!!!!
Personally, I think we should have amnesty and open the borders. Do you know why? Because perhaps it will teach a valuable lesson to us all. The American people need to focus on strengthening our country for all its citizens, and not letting a select group of people run the country in the ground for their own benefit. Their selfish greed will be the death of us all. Maybe if about 80 million more Central Americans and Asians flood this country through ammesty, we will get that message. My point is just don’t make the children suffer because of our ignorance. They need to learn, too.