The Politics of the
No Child Left Behind Act
by Stuart Dunn
I find many
areas to fault, and few to praise, in President George W.
Bush's administration and legislative program. But one piece
of legislation he passed which I believe is unfairly criticized
is the No Child Left Behind Act. This legislation requires
schools to shrink the test score gaps between white and minority
students by 2014. Schools that don't improve or fail to meet
minimal standards face restructuring or state takeover. The
law requires annual statewide tests to evaluate student performance
in grades three through eight, with scores broken down by
race and income levels. It also requires that teachers have
a degree in the subjects they teach. Teacher's unions and
some politicians argue that too many schools will fail to
make the grade; and that the law forces teachers to “teach to the test”,
and therefore to neglect non-test topics like music and art.
They also argue that the federal government has failed to
adequately fund the act. They call for its repeal.
Few argue
with the objective of shrinking the gap between white and
minority students. Criticism of the details of the act has
some merit. The federal government should provide adequate
funding when mandating costly activities. Requiring teachers
to know the subjects they teach is obvious, although requiring
a degree in the subject may be too rigid. (The problem of
recruiting trained math and science teachers is due primarily
to the union contract requiring equal pay for all subject areas.
It is clear that in today's competitive society math and science
majors are more in demand, and therefore, require higher salaries,
than physical education or English teachers.) The definition
of a failing school probably needs improvement. However, the
argument about teaching to the test—the major objection
to testing—seems to me to be more a result of teachers
not wanting to be evaluated than not wanting to teach to the
test. If the tests realistically test what students should
know in each grade then teaching to the test is hardly a valid
criticism. If this leaves inadequate time to teach non-test
subjects the fault lies with the curriculum, the principals
and the teachers, not with the test requirement. It is time
to stop complaining and get to work.
It has become standard for the Democratic presidential
candidates to call for the repeal of the No Child Left Behind
Act. Rarely do they offer detailed criticism, or constructive
amendments. They just recite the mantra of repeal and their
audiences shower them with approval. I believe these politicians
are using their opposition to this act to pander for union
support and that is very sad. We need nonpartisan support for
education. Not long ago education was everyone's number one
priority. Now it is down most people's list below the economy
(jobs), national security, and Iraq. Not surprising, however,
confusing the public on a program as important as raising minority
education standards is not statesmanship, it is pure partisan
politics.
The nation thirsts for a president who will be
honest, fair, statesmanlike and responsible. The Democrats
will not win this election unless they present a program, which
demonstrates these qualities. Indiscriminately attacking the
No Child Left Behind Act is not honest, fair or responsible.
It is not too late to get it right.#