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Dec 21, 2003 The National Education Association (NEA) is upset at “No Child Left Behind”. They say they are upset because this is a governmental “unfunded mandate” that is unfair for “children with disabilities, children who do not speak English and children who live in poverty, who have to move every two months.” No. The real reason the NEA is upset is because standardized testing to determine proficiency in students so they may advance is indicating the NEA is doing one crappy job at educating children in all walks of life. Liberals will always cry “unfair” and try to tug at our heartstrings with tales of woe from the downtrodden masses. Now, what exactly is the nationwide percentage of disabled, poverty stricken and non-English speaking children keeping the greater percentage of non-disabled, non-poverty stricken English-speaking children from achieving the standards? No. The NEA says that an 11 billion dollar shortfall is the problem. The government must provide more money. If the government can pony up 87 billion for Iraq reconstruction, why should the NEA have to do with less than that to educate American children? Well, first of all, Iraq is only getting 20 billion. The NEA already gets more than that, but apparently the NEA must teach itself how to read a newspaper. Every time failure can be traced to the NEA it is always because the government does not supply enough money. No. More money has not improved education. Education in America has grown steadily more stagnant even with all the additional spending. It is time to force the NEA into accountability for the billions it puts in its own pockets because we are not getting our dollar’s worth from this pack of thieves. Educational failure resides solely with the educators. American education needs to return to a singular standard nationwide. A singular core curriculum of standard subjects with standardized tests. Everyone learning the same stuff. If you are a poverty-stricken kid that moves every two months, no matter what school you end up in the subjects and texts will be the same. No one gets left behind. If you are a kid with a disability, you will always have a standard core curriculum that you will be able to depend on understanding. No one gets left behind. If you are a non- English speaking kid, repetition in a reliable core of subjects will catch you up to the English speaking kids in a hurry. No one gets left behind. Testing to standard will always be appropriate to the grade level of the core. I suggest we weed out every member of the NEA who opposes standards. Then we test every one left standing to ensure they not only know the standards but also can adequately relay them to our children. A solid core group, trained in a standard core curriculum with everyone learning the same stuff. No child gets left behind and we actually save money by eliminating the redundant and wasteful NEA programs that have been keeping our children on the bottom rungs of the educational ladder. We do not need the NEA. Let's get a group of people who really care about education and not this group of thieves out for more money without accountability. ------------ About the Author: Independent, Conservative, Christian. Married 29 years with 5 children raised and one grandson being raised. 30 year Army Veteran and published poet with www.poetry.com since Y2K. Email Michael John McCrae: michael.mccrae@us.army.mil Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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