A Pattern of Problems ...

[Scott Hays <shays@ccwebster.net>]

The Public Education Network reports this week, amongst other things,  
that …

• the National Council of Churches has ten moral concerns about the  
implementation of NCLB, amongst them a fear that NCLB will discredit  
public education, that NCLB does not measure student growth and  
accomplishment, NCLB requires students with special needs and English  
language learners to pass tests for which they are ill-equipped, NCLB  
blames schools for conditions beyond their control, and testing  
obscures the importance of other elements of learning (arts,  
humanities, and physical development);
• the New York Times finds that thousands of schools across the  
country are taking time away from other subjects (arts, humanities,  
and physical development … see above) in order to focus on the  
teaching of math and reading, which – of course – are tested;
• the Center of Education Policy finds that achievement in the tested  
areas is improving, but the curriculum focus is being narrowed and 37  
states report inadequate funding to implement the mandated  
requirements of NCLB;
• the National School Boards Association's Council of Urban Boards of  
Education reports that focus on academic achievement results in  
structural reform, but excludes improvement in the school climate,  
which is “inextricably linked” to overall improvements;
• the Washington Post reports that 27% of all schools in the U.S.  
(24,470) did not meet federal requirements for “adequate yearly  
progress”, an increase over the previous year;
• the state of Maryland has taken over administration of four high  
schools and seven middle schools in Baltimore as mandated by NCLB;
• Philadelphia reports a growing problem with drug abuse amongst  
elementary school children

… and so on (and on).  Does anyone besides me see a pattern here?

I know Art says NCLB is well intentioned, that there is no conspiracy  
to use it as a hammer to destroy America’s publicly funded school  
systems, and that the real problem lies within the states because  
they refuse to do what is necessary to make the necessary  
improvements.  However, living as he does in Oregon, he must be very  
familiar with the budgetary problems faced by almost all states,  
making it almost impossible to begin to adequately address the  
problems described above.