In accordance with Bush's Orwellian NCLB, even though we can prove progress in all the mandated areas, we have failed because we didn't progress enough. So, we have attained "Failure Through Progress"?
To anyone out there in the Kos-lands who harbors the secret belief that teachers don't like NCLB just because they don't want to be accountable, listen up!
The schools that are getting hammered by this unfunded federal mandate are in some of the most economically deprived, drug-infested, dream-shattering parts of our country.
Remember, our education system works pretty darn well if kids are middle class and have two healthy parents with enough disposable income to buy books and educational toys. Uh, not so good if your mom is dead, your dad incarcerated, and your grandmother is raising you and three other children (all born to a crackhead mother and at least two of them sexually abused by various boyfriends). These kids have nervous systems that are rewired and not best suited for smooth and positive interactions in the classroom.
But we love 'em and we teach 'em. It's just that sometimes we have to teach them stuff that isn't on the standardized tests. Stuff like, how to find a counselor to talk to rather than cutting themselves; how to believe in themselves and envision a future that they have some control over; how to treat other people with kindness; how to accept kindness from others.
A lot of our students have family serving over in Iraq. They worry all the time about who might not come home and who might make it home but be "jacked up". This is just another curve George has thrown us. It's hard to do math when your dad is in Baghdad.
These kids are- and hell, our whole country is- left behind already. If the government really wanted them all to excel, it would stop stacking the deck against them. It would provide access to quality medical care for all citizens, it would ensure that all children had safe daycare so working families wouldn't have to patch together an inadequate care system; it would make early childhood education for all a reality. If George really cared a rat's ass about kids, he wouldn't send their parents to fight and die in Iraq and he wouldn't enact policies that are just plain detrimental to human life.
So, I return tomorrow to my failed school. My students will come in smiling and game for whatever adventure we'll take. Some of our kids won't be there because of troubles at home. Some of our kids won't be there because their little league team is in Pennsylvania and just won the national title! Wow! Too bad we can't test for hardwork, perserverence, and teamwork. The sad thing is, we are all now labeled as failing. Failing kids and failing teachers in a failed school.
But NCLB isn't really about helping the kids. It is about "proving" that public education doesn't work. Universal, free, public education is one of the strengths of our country. No, it isn't perfect, but it carried-out by professionals who want it to be. My school isn't a failure George, and my students sure aren't. The fact that they are pursuing their educations in the face of considerable personal challenges is more inspiring to me than any of your empty words could ever be.
I tried to give George a failing grade last November but something hinky happened. I think it's time for a progress report. Go ahead and vote, no Diebold this time.