9486 in the collection
Running From 'No Child'
Comments from Annie: The Washington Post, long considered a newspaper that supported Democrats, both the candidates and the political principles, has changed...dramatically. Know it, understand the many illustrations of it in their reporting, and accept their new stand and foundation: the bottom line is $$$.
There is a overt fear coming into play here and The Post seems willing to risk anything to stop any threat that NCLB might be withdrawn-- resulting in great losses for Kaplan, their REAL money-maker. And, perhaps the Post also fends off dissent for the benefit of their "friends" who also need their finances protected.
Fear is understandable. But, I can not believe the cowardice of mocking important considerations in this Washington Post statement: "Democrats are sticking to safe topics such as expanding pre-kindergarten programs, reducing class sizes and making college more affordable."
Good grief.
The Post pretends to believe that NCLB has helped "poor and minority children" despite overwhelming evidence that more harm has been the outcome, and that this premise was nothing more than the marketing key for the greedy industry seeking the REAL outcome of the changes: the financial outcome.
Now take a good, hard look at the last paragraph. Are you amazed, as I am, at the pathetic low caliber of thinking or "argument" in a Washington Post editorial? Did this editor-in-chef really waste expensive paper space to quote such a pathetic, uninspired thought? Yes they did: "Mr. Romney has said he believes the 'testing of our kids to be a good thing.' "
There ya have it. What an inspiration (if ya like your baloney full of pork.)
What a sham.
Running From 'No Child'
More candidates should follow Mitt Romney's lead and talk about ways to improve the education law.
CONGRESSIONAL inertia in reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act could well mean that the shape of federal education policy is left to the next president. But the law and its principles of standards-based reform have created splits within each party, and candidates are running warily. In large measure, Democrats are sticking to safe topics such as expanding pre-kindergarten programs, reducing class sizes and making college more affordable. Republicans are stressing their commitment to expanding choice in education.
When the issue of NCLB does come up, too often the impulse has been to launch a sound-bite attack. Among the worst: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and his repeated vow to "scrap it"; Sen. Joseph R. Biden (D-Del.), who called his vote for the 2001 law "a mistake" driven by his faith in its sponsor, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.); and former Tennessee senator Fred D. Thompson (R), who also regrets his vote because "it's not working."
In fact, No Child Left Behind, though flawed, is working. By bringing accountability into American classrooms, the law has made it impossible for schools to hide their failures in educating some children behind their successes with others. Results of testing as well as reports by outside groups show students doing better in math and reading, as well as a narrowing of the achievement gap between blacks and whites.
It's particularly disappointing that the three Democrats who sit on the Senate education committee and who could have a hand in the law's improvement and renewal -- Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), Barack Obama (Ill.) and Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.) -- aren't doing a better job of speaking up for the good the law has done, particularly for poor and minority children. They, along with former North Carolina senator John Edwards (D), no doubt have to worry about the formidable grass-roots constituency of the National Education Association (NEA), which has declared all-out war against NCLB. But they could be acknowledging the bill's flaws while still standing up for accountability.
The candidate who has made the most sense is former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (R), and that's because he speaks from experience. Mr. Romney has said he believes the "testing of our kids to be a good thing." He points to Massachusetts, which, nine years before No Child, instituted its own reforms of holding schools accountable for student achievement. The result has been improvement in student learning, with Massachusetts today held out as a model. Certainly NCLB needs adjustment, and Mr. Romney has some ideas -- such as focusing more attention on individual student progress and giving more flexibility to schools that meet or exceed testing goals. Those are the kinds of specific proposals voters need to hear.
Editor
Washington Post
2007-11-27
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/26/AR2007112601852.html
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
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