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Nov. 29, 2004 Many people from both parties applauded the day (2001) that President Bush signed into legislation the “No Child Left Behind” Act thinking that it could salvage our failing educational system. However, it has proven to be anything but that. This act was based upon four premises. Those were as follows; greater flexibility and locally controlled, emphasis on proven teaching methods, stronger accountability for the results, and expanded parental options. (www.ed.gov) Where are the weaknesses with this act? In my estimation, problems with this act stem from allowing each state to determine how they want to apply this law instead of trying to create a nationwide system that is the same from state to state and preserves a standardized curriculum. Too much emphasis is placed on how children test out instead of what they learn about any given course. Under this law test scores determine the accountability and quality of the teaching, but tests do not teach more than what the child needs to pass the test nor give them the necessary skills to enter into an accredited college and successfully pass its curriculum or prepare them to enter the workforce. If teachers are only allowed to teach those skills that help the child to pass the end of the year test then they are cutting the educational cycle short and definitely not relying on proven teaching methodologies that ensure a well rounded education. Florida began a statewide lottery that was supposed to fund education for our state. However, at last tally 50 cents of each dollar were set aside for prize payouts, 39 cents of each dollar are used for on-line ticket sales, 5.5 cents of every dollar go back to the vendor/retailer, 1.6 cents of each dollar go to advertising for the lottery, and 1.8 cents of each dollar are paid out for lottery operations which leaves about 2.1 cent for education. (www.ecs.org) That’s really putting our lottery money to work for education isn’t it? In the state of Florida deficiencies can be found in reading, math, English, and history. As a matter of fact, since 2001, when the “No Child Left Behind” Act was signed, Florida has seen a decrease in youth literary rates. Nearly 77% of our 4th graders read below the national average and we have a 12% statewide drop-out rate, with rates as high as 30% for some counties. (www.floridaliteracy.org) Would you call this a sweeping success? Reference: www.floridaliteracy.org www.ed.gov www.ecs.org ------------ About the author: Michelle Malsbury was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. She attended Parkland College and the University of Illinois before graduating from the University of Phoenix with her degree in Business Management. Currently she is working on her master’s degree in Organizational Management while concurrently pursuing her lofty writing ambitions. Ms. Malsbury moved to south Florida in 1983 and resides between the Keys and Apalachicola, allowing her to experience the seasonal fluctuations between the southernmost and nearly northernmost beauty in the state of Florida. Travels have taken her from Europe through the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and across much of the United States. Michelle has been a bartender, real estate agent, flight attendant, beauty contestant, yacht broker, and commodities broker over the years, but writing is her passion. She enjoys outdoor activities like sailing, waterskiing, hiking, bike riding, working out, and fishing as well as reading, music, theatre, playing with her two amusing pets (Abu Chez, her 6 year old Australian Blue Heeler and Zack, her two year old yellow tabby cat) and writing. Michelle is a regular featured author on the web site Useless-Knowledge.com and enjoys exchanging points of view with her comrades there. “Three Years With Adonis” is the first to be published of several books that she has written and will be available early, to mid, 2005. In addition to “Three Years With Adonis”, she has authored four other books and three screenplays while continuing to explore all that life hands her. Email Michelle Malsbury: abuchez@mchsi.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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