Beyond NCLB

[Harold Berlak <hberlak@yahoo.com>]

I have recently posted "Why a Student and Parent Testing Protection  
Act? (And what it should include)"  It's  far from perfect. I hope it  
will  stir some responses.   My view is that we need to organize  
around an affirmative agenga-- pursuit of rights  not around  
opposition to a particular piece of legislation.

  I fully support and celebrate efforts underway to salvage  
something from this dysfunctional Congress.  But just how much can we  
expect from a Democratic Congress when the  two champion corporate  
contributors  to the Democratic Party , Broad and Gates,  are pumping  
millions into a public relations (i.e. propaganda)  campaign for  
preserving high standards  --code for  government mandated rankings  
and national testing.  After the dust settles and we've managed to  
get some wimpy changes that do not challenge national testing, the  
troops disband since our mutual distaste for NCLB is mostly what   
held us together.

 To repeat: we need an affirmative, inclusive  pro-rights agenda.


Let's build a new society, and develop a new progressive school  
vision  but let's put our priority on protecting  the kids and  
families that are destined to live in the system that is-- and is  
destroying them.


Harold