No child pushed ahead

In a rapidly changing world, many other countries have passed the United States in achievement and academic prowess. Our best and brightest students are not being pushed ahead but pushed into the corner of the classroom and told: “they are gifted learners; they’ll just get it on their own.” Sitting still doing busy work is not the way our brightest hope for the nation’s future needs to be spending their time. I believe the No Child Left Behind Act is at the crux of this downward spiral.

The Program for International Student Assessment (“PISA”) report provides evidence of the United States losing ground on the international stage. [PISA compares the scores of U.S. 15-year-old students in science and mathematics literacy to the scores of their peers internationally.] An article in the Washington Post confirmed what I have read in many other publications: “…The United States had the fewest top performers and largest percentage of low performers in an international assessment of 15-year old students in math problem solving skills. By the time these students reach the 12th grade in math and science, they are near the bottom or dead last compared with their international competition.”

According to the Georgia Dept. of Education, No Child Left Behind is described thusly: “NCLB significantly raises expectations for states, local school districts, and schools in that all students will meet or exceed state standards in reading and mathematics within twelve years.” After extensive reading, research and first hand experience as a parent of three children, NCLB seems to be primarily focused on raising the bottom tier of learners. Proficiency is the name of the game. One only needs to look at the results of a 2nd grader’s report card to see the expectations are flat. “S” is the highest grade possible and is described as “performance meeting grade-level expectations for this time of year.” What about those students who consistently exceed the expectations? Again, if we are not pushing those at the top to go above and beyond, then we will continue to slip below other countries in academic achievement.

Cassie states: “Instead of closing the achievement gap among students, No Child Left Behind is constantly increasing the education gap by holding back all students while attempting to improve others.” I agree and think about this: In order to close a gap, you have to bring both the top and bottom together. When this is done, the top comes down and the bottom rises up. What is wrong with the visual illustrated by this example and again, who does it leave out? I say we turn this equation upside down and focus on “raising the bar” instead. If we raise the bar, then all must rise up to meet that bar.

In the day to day reporting requirements mandated by NCLB, the paperwork can be daunting. Teachers are hit over the head with the message to teach to the test from the very first day of the school year. Even the syllabi from our local middle schools reference benchmarks for testing purposes – to make sure we hit the mark on the all mighty testing target. I made an observation in another discussion that we are prostituting the future of our nation to the Federal Government in the frenzy to meet the accountability requirements of NCLB.

For more information on the PISA report, visit www.nces.ed.gov/pubs2008/2008016.pdf