So there has been a lot of talk about NCLB and its consequences for teachers and students alike. Like most teachers I am not pleased with NCLB, and unfortunatly I do not see any change on the horizon.
So what is so bad about NCLB you say? First, it puts undue pressure on teachers and schools. There is always this fear that the government is looking over your shoulder, and they are. If your school does not make AYP (adequate yearly progress) you are forced to be reviewed by the state and county government. Also the school loses thier accreditation meaning that the public sees the school as a failure and in turn the teachers as well.
Second, NCLB puts unrealistic requirements on school districts for the pass rate of their students. It is impossible for 100 percent of students to pass all tests unless you make the tests so easy that no one could fail (yet some will still fail because of their apathy). Also some students can count against you in numerous categories because each ethnicity, socio-economic status, and special education designation causes the student to count in a sub-group. This can lead to one student counting against your AYP numbers 3 times.
Finally, I believe that NCLB is in violation of the United States Constitution. The Constitution gives control of public education to the states. When the federal government stepped in and passed NCLB they were trying to take away some of this power. By putting stipulations on NCLB (if you want the money, you follow the law) they forced many school systems and states to agree to NCLB. The federal government says it is legal because states do not have to opt into NCLB, but when education is underfunded anyway and you dangle a large sum of money in front of states, they are inclined to follow NCLB.
In conclusion NCLB is unconstitutional and should be repealed post haste!
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