With the new control of congress, expect to see the accountability
components of No Child Left Behind relax. Statewide expect to see
little change, except MORE MONEY towards education.
Yesterday in the Washington Post, columnist Jay Mathews listed seven myths purported by politicians. He suggests that politicians have little to do with education reform.
Concluding he states:
“We have yet to elect any president, senator or member of Congress who has had a marked positive (or negative) impact on student achievement. Candidates for those offices will say they plan to rescue the education system because their polls say voters think this is important, but their promises are meaningless. Governors, as well as school board members, do have the power to make schools better, but very few have ever done so. Usually the best work is done by aggressive teachers and principals who know what they want and work very hard to get it, without ever asking anyone to vote for them.”
In light of the way states have ?gamed? No Child Left Behind you have to agree with his points. He just stopped too quickly.
Mathews should have mentioned the importance of parents having the freedom to opt for successful schools. There is nothing more hopeless than being stuck in a poor performing school feeling victimized by the government (politically) controlled education system.
