NCLB, Still Not Every Child Considered

By Rachel Lehman, Undergraduate Research Fellow, October 4, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Each student's individuality makes teaching such a rewarding and challenging profession. Students’ uniqueness is also what makes it impossible for effective teaching to follow a universal education formula.

Skilled teachers implement what education professionals call differentiated lessons. They know Derrick reads something once and comprehends it; Jim needs to make notes in the margins and underline the main idea as he goes to retain a passage’s key points. LaRon can do arithmetic in his head; Kim needs to work problems out on paper.

Quality teachers get to know their students, their strengths, where they need more work, and prepare lessons that ensure all students reach their potential.

However, not all students are starting out at the same point, not all students progress at the same rate and some have unforeseen speed bumps in learning. If that’s the case, why are we still using a standardized test to measure performance? Furthermore, why are we basing the quality of our schools on this narrow metric’s outcome?

Minnesota’s Department of Education and the Obama Administration realize No Child Left Behind is failing students and schools. They’re working toward a better system but they are against huge hurdle: universal post-secondary readiness at the end of 12th grade.

But because of a number of factors, many beyond the education system’s control, not every student is ready for college or tech school at the end of high school.

That’s a trend that will continue unless we address the factors outside of the classroom that hurt achievement.

Family social science plays a critical role in improving educational achievement. First we need to change the metric for evaluating achievement. Then institute reasonable solutions.

Instead of laying down stiff punishments, narrowly looking to blame schools and implementing misguided reforms, let’s go to struggling schools. If there are outside factors at play, let’s work with parents and communities to implement smart policies to help students focus on school work.

Parents or guardians serve an important role in the emotional and social growth of a child. Stability at home and in a community fosters children’s growth. This solid footing enhances and aids academic growth.

Posted in Education | Related Topics: K-12 education  Classroom Methods  NCLB  Student Assessment