Re: Congress adapting NCLB
I have never seen so much useless tweeking of a failed program in all my years. The current system of education was never designed to serve all kids. It was designed in the 18th century, during slavery, by Thomas Jefferson who called its purpose "raking a few geniuses from the rubbish". And some people, in the minds of the powerful, did not rise to the level of rubbish. It was designed to screen kids in and out of college as well as into poverty. In fact, the "test" created the infamous "gap" forcing select kids, from learning, into an artificial race they aren't likely to win. And the sad part is so many of us bought it!
The system of education is difficult, if not impossible, to change as the powers to be are comfortable with who is going to college as well as those who are pushed into poverty for the rest of their lives. The current school system maintains that subclass, taking kids at ages 14, 15 and even younger relegating them to a life of failure. Yes folks, our class system is designed in the schools.
How do they accomplish this atrocity? They refuse to accept that kids learn in different ways as they all must be taught to the test, in the classroom, sitting on their backsides becoming the "booklearned" people the "booklearned" education leaders want them to be while those who are successful end up passing the test and leaving school without a lick of common sense.
Secondly, they refuse to accept that kids demonstrate learning in different ways. Have you ever heard anyone say "I'm just not a good test taker"? Here is a news flash. Those who are not good test takers ARE NOT STUPID! Make assessment real so they can demonstrate their abilities and DO something and you will see a difference in who rises to the top.
Finally, kids blossom at different times. No, they are not all educationally pure, they are not the Stepford Kids. Those who move faster through the system of education should be allowed to do so. And we must be a people who waits for those who progress slower because they might just be smarter than the booklearned geniuses who do well on the test.
This is only the beginning. The bottom line is that a new system of education must "even the playing field" and respect the intelligence and abilities af all kids. We will always fail until we redesign that system taking into consideration those many issues that must change.
Go to www.WholeChildReform.com for a link to our new book "Saving Students From A Shattered System". Reading this book, you will find a detailed plan to revamp the failed system of education and bring new hope to all.
Cap Lee
Caplee@wi.rr.com
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