Commentary Published

[PRISCILLA GUTIERREZ <pgutpgut@msn.com>]

My commentary on NCLB was published in today's edition of the Santa Fe New Mexican, along with another anti-NCLB commentary from Dr. Paul Martinez and Dr. Cheryl Brown Kovacic, from the Center for Education and Study of Diverse Populations at NM Highlands University.  They recently held a two-day parent conference on NCLB that included 300 participants.  Some of the highlights from their commentary include:  

1) Parents want access to the decisions being made about their child's classroom and program.  They have been disturbed when local school boards or principals do not value their input.  They also want to be informed about policy, state standards, budget issues and accountability.
2) A consistent concern was the narrowing of curriculum under NCLB that focused on teaching to the test.  Also they were upset at the loss of creativity on the part of teachers due to pressures to increase test scores.
3)  Parents were concerned over the lack of time for students to "just be a kid" because of increased pressures to perform well on one-shot tests.  They want a balanced approach that address the WHOLE child - socially as well as academically.
4) School ratings should not be based on just one test.  Rather testing should provide information on the strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities to show what children know outside of what is on the state test.  They also want schools to get credit for how much a student has improved.
5) Parents want realistic goals for students with disabilities.  Rather than compare them with non-disabled peers, parents would prefer that the growth of individual students be charted long-term to see how they are improving and growing.
6) Parents are concerned that current policy emphasizes teaching to the book, which leaves out the real human part of cultural diversity.
7) Parents want meaningful involvement in the schools - not just being asked to volunteer to make copies or address envelopes.
8) And finally, parents want to see increased funding for schools.


Priscilla Gutierrez
Outreach Specialist
New Mexico School for the Deaf

...change is inevitable, growth is optional...