NCLB--"local freedom" discussion
In this section, we will be providing information on the NCLB strand: "local freedom." In its review we will talk about "what it says," "what it says vs. what the reality may be (based on critique, evidence, experience, etc.)," and what it really says (connecting it to a larger structural reality). Information on NCLB can be found at http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml. A starting place for constructive critique can be found at www.rethinkingschools.com. Feel free to help in the research of this area or feel free to comment on what's here.
posted by adam at 4:05 PM
2 Comments:
The Chicago teacher published newspaper Substance (www.substancenews.com) is a good source for what is going on with NCLB at the ground level in Chicago as well as across the US. Substance publishes a "national resistance" section in each of its monthly issues.
Wayne
http://web.mac.com/wayne.ross
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND AND FAITH-BASED LEADERS
This information item on the No Child Left Behind website discusses how faith-based organizations can take part in making sure this new legislation is successful. The site proclaims:
”To help improve the quality of education in America under No Child Left Behind, faith-based groups can ...
• Share success stories with clergy and community leaders so that they too can use resources and information provided by No Child Left Behind.
• Meet and talk with members of the congregation. Find out what their skills and interests are and engage their support for a plan of action.
• Become a supplemental educational services provider. Information can be obtained by visiting www.ed.gov/faithandcommunity or by calling 1-800-USA-LEARN and asking for the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Help is also available from state departments of education.
• Call upon state and local officials, including school board members, to fully implement every aspect of No Child Left Behind.
• Inform and educate parents about the new opportunities for children under No Child Left Behind. No Child Left Behind: A Parents Guide is available from www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml.
• Provide resources, serve as mentors and act as advocates, particularly in schools where parental involvement is currently limited. To request free publications while supplies last, call toll-free 1-877-433-7827, or visit www.edpubs.org.”
Additionally, US DoE also can provide “free, user-friendly, research-based materials” that can strengthen the work of faith-based organizations.
ANALYSIS/REFLECTION
Ugh. While the site goes out of its way to indicate that government cannot be replaced by charities, it appears they hope they’ll do some of the heavy lifting. The government will even provide them free resources to help. How about providing us some free resources? Also, there is more accusatory language here from Rod Paige, “Just as Brown v. Board of Education declared that separate schools are inherently unequal, No Child Left Behind declares that separate instruction—instruction that is based upon assumptions that certain children cannot learn—is inherently unequal. The new law says that we as a nation will not tolerate schools that practice the soft bigotry of low expectations." Teachers sound like bad people.
In this entire discussion I am reminded of Galeano’s work, which posits: “Charity consoles but does not question. ‘When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint,’ said Brazilian bishop Helder Camara. ‘And when I ask why they have no food, they call me a communist.’ Unlike solidarity, which is horizontal and takes place between equals, charity is top down, humiliating those who receive it and never challenging the implicit power relations. In the best of cases, there will be justice someday, high in heaven. Here on earth, charity doesn’t worry injustice, it just tries to hide it.” While there is nothing, inherently, wrong with the faith-based community becoming involved in helping children learn, no focus should be taken away from the responsibility of our federal, state, and local governments to provide a free and equitable education for every citizen. Inviting others in to do the work our government should do is only inviting a problem and an inequitable distribution of resources.
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