WASHINGTON, April 12, 2007
Bush Defends No Child Left Behind Act
President Says He's Holding Schools Accountable To Help, Not Punish Them
-
President Bush, center, flanked by Shelia Evans-Tranumn, Associate Commissioner of Education for New York State; left, and Art Ryan, chairman and chief executive officer of Prudential Financial, makes remarks to the press after a meeting on the 'No Child Left Behind' initiative, Thursday, April 12, 2007, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
-
Interactive Education In America Backpack ready? Learn more about education in America through fun facts, national statistics and unusual schools.
Bush suggested the White House and its allies must do a better job of explaining the goal of holding schools accountable.
Congress is working on renewing the law, which remains unpopular in many districts nationwide.
It is important for all of us to make it clear that accountability is not a way to punish anybody, Bush told supporters of the law in a meeting at the White House. It's an essential component to making sure that our system, our education system, frankly is not discriminatory.
Bush got unified support from the group of business, education and civil rights leaders he invited to the Roosevelt Room. They spoke of economic competitiveness and social justice.
But even his friendly audience pointed out flaws in the law.
The most common concern was that some states free to determine their own academic standards are manipulating the law by setting the bar too low for students.
There have been some states that have been attempting to skirt the act by, in effect, dumbing down their curriculum, said Paul Vallas, CEO of the Philadelphia School District.
No Child Left Behind, approved by Congress early in Bush's first term, is the biggest federal act in a generation. Politically, it is also vital to Bush's agenda and his legacy.
Schools that receive federal aid face sanctions if they don't show yearly progress among their students, including poor children, minorities and limited-English learners.
The result is that schools must give more attention to kids who often struggle the most.
Yet where Bush sees accountability, others see punishment.
Many parents and teachers say schools put too much emphasis on getting kids to pass tests. Bush's support of private-school vouchers has also made critics suspicious of his intentions.
The president seemed aware of these perceptions.
It's really important for the citizens to understand that I'm a huge believer in the public school systems, Bush said. I believe our public schools have really made America.
The White House allowed two reporters to sit in on Bush's meeting.
Bush appears to have enough bipartisan support to get the law renewed with its core elements intact, although conservative Republicans oppose it on grounds that it is a federal intrusion.
The law orders states to test children in reading and math in grades three through eight, and once in high school.
Bush offered no commitment on the issue of getting states to raise their standards. Instead, he defended local control and opposed the idea of judging schools based on a federal test.
The status quo, though isn't working, Bush was told time and again. State standards are a hodgepodge nationwide, although many states have committed to improve those standards.
Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform and a participant in the meeting, said after that Bush realizes the law needs work without being weakened.
He was familiar with the rhetoric, and with the fact that it's very difficult for parents to negotiate No Child Left Behind, Allen said. He knows the challenges and the perceptions.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From Politics
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
- 1
- 2
- 3
- next
See all 45 CommentsPosted by homespunlady at 09:17 PM : Apr 13, 2007
Don't be sorry, maybe she liked it? lol
Trying the same old tired "standardized test" threats and expecting different results is insanity.
Ultimately, schooling in America will have to evolve. Whether it is Public, Charter, Private, Homeschool or a combination of those which is what I foresee, the one size fits all idea never really worked and will have to go.
People are different, employment and societal needs are different, those needs change and so should our educational system.
My daughter's been homeschooled for several years My reasons had to do with a serious lack of education at the local district and safety. I had teachers admitting that being 2 or more grade levels behind was "AVERAGE" for that school since they taught "TO THE LOWEST LEVEL". Not only that but she was being terrorized by an adult at the school and 4 months of complaints, documented proof and finally serious consideration left me with NO OTHER CHOICE.
She has had a chance to learn in a way several of our founding fathers have and although I had reservations, I'm extremely glad of that choice. She would not be the outstanding, intelligent, self-reliant, well balanced person she is If she had stayed.
CHILDREN ARE NOT FACTORY PARTS THAT CAN BE MEASURED BY SOME MECHANICAL STANDARDIZATION LEVEL. Although the "public schools" in a private enclave area with million dollar homes may understand that, most low income, low property value and rural schools do not.
The "low wages for teachers" being threatened are actually pretty good here. This "public school" starts as babysitting service then holding pens for future unwed mothers and juvenile offenders. I've been surprised when a few months go by without another "incident" making the news there.
Posted by cmp271 at 01:51 PM : Apr 13, 2007
I was in High School 37 years ago and the best teachers I had there were Mr. Aten (math) who dressed in jeans and no tie and Mr Markusik, who looked like George Carlin in his early days. Beard, jeans, t-shirt and a Fu Manchu. Great teachers! We respected them because they knew what they were talking about, not because they dressed like we did (though that did help). ;-).
Posted by cmp271
That is a lie, but whatever you need to believe to help get rid of it. Bush used the exact same system when he was governor of texas but he didn't have the authority to destroy public education like he does now. He called it the TAAS (Texas Assessment of Academic Skills)testing system.
We need to go back to how we were 35 years ago. Maybe then teachers will get the respect they deserve. Now if they would just dress to look more professional it would be much better. Then maybe they will be taken seriously!!!
The NCLB breaks all students into categories, white, black, Hispanic, special ed, ESL, etc. Each year the passing percentage requirement for the exam is increased in all categories, so by 2014 ALL categories must be 100% passing, including special ed Spanish speaking first kids. If even ONE student fails, the school is labeled failing and teachers are fired, administrators fired and the school must pay to have the students sent to the nearest charter school. If even ONE kid blows the test off and doesn%u2019t care about it, the entire school is labeled %u201Cfailing%u201D. Those teachers that lose their jobs may be rehired by charter schools which will drop their income from say $25,000-$30,000 per year to $15,000 and take away all of their medical benefits. Soon, no one with a half a brain will major in education in college. The NCLB will completely destroy public education and the charter schools are becoming a lucrative business for Bush's friends. Ask anyone in education about the things I have just written and they will confirm every word of it.
Posted by Infidel_US
The "some that it works for" are the people that are making money from the charter schools. The superintendent of our local district explained how lucrative those charter schools are. Bush has friends making a fortune off of the demise of public education, much like the oilfields of Iraq. The teachers and students are the ones getting screwed if the republicans are allowed to continue. When those fired teachers are offered those $15,000 per year jobs with no benefits they will leave education and guess what kind of teachers you'll wind up with? If they did this to medicine, which doctors would go to school to work for $15,000 a year and no benefits?
Yes, the boy and his party learned well from poppa Bush's gaff, now the GOP hides all their tax increases as either unfunded mandates that translates into higher local taxes or deferred spending which translates into higher taxes for our kids and grandkids.. really sneaky, nice going GOP!
Yeah, it's me. I had to re-register b/c CBS lost my cookie and I forgot my password. :( She's a teacher and we don't like NCLB. It may works for some, but overall it's smoke and mirrors.
Republicons Defend No Child's Behind Act
Posted by jh6379 at 10:46 AM : Apr 13, 2007
1) Because he only has two more years left in office
2) Because you guys think he is an evil, lying, buffoon and I know that is NOT the case
3) Because it really sends bedwetting libs over the edge and nothing pleases me more
Having said that, I'm not happy about how things are being handled. If he were up for reelection I would NOT vote for him.
But just because I don't like him doesn't mean I would stab him in the back in front of our enemies - during a time of war. That's where me and libs part company on the "Dubya" issue.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- next
See all 45 Comments