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Opinion

Forum Friday

Leave it behind?

AT ISSUE: Politicians are divided over whether to renew, rework or simply abandon the No Child Left Behind Act. Designed to improve schools "by focusing on accountability for results, freedom for states and communities, proven education methods and choices for parents," the act has received a great deal of criticism from opponents, and many states are involved in lawsuits against the federal government over the law. The act is scheduled for reauthorization this year. Should it be repealed or renewed?Several problems plague the act, and it must be re-examined

CHEYCARA LATIMER: In theory, the No Child Left Behind Act is supposed to ensure that all students have the same educational opportunities. In reality, our education system is failing our children in more than one way.

First, let's examine the idea of federal funding. Teachers and other school officials rarely see the federal funding or even the improvements that the funding is truly meant for. Money received from the government is not going toward improving students' educations. 

Second, high school students are required to take an exit test (such as the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test for 11th grade students) in order to graduate. It is unfortunate to think a student may not graduate high school because of a test, despite having earned all of the required credits. 

Third, teachers feel intense pressure to teach students required material. Bilingual teachers seem to incur the bulk of this pressure because they must teach English to non-English speaking students in a short period of time. 

So this leaves us in a difficult position. If the act is repealed, schools could lose federal funding. Children need a solid, well-rounded education. However, without the proper materials, as well as funding to purchase these materials, a child's chance for success is limited.

If it is renewed, however, it needs to be restructured in a way that is beneficial for everyone instead of only a few.

Latimer is a creative writing post-baccalaureate student. 

The act causes certain subjects to be ignored and should be repealed 

SANTIAGO LOPEZ: Not only should the No Child Left Behind Act be repealed, any statue, law, ordinance, stipulation or practice that requires standardized testing as a means of measuring students' progress should be rescinded.

While the intention of the act is honorable — to ensure that elementary and middle school students become proficient in reading and math — it allows other subjects to be glossed over in favor of these two branches of learning. In their review of the act, Jack Jennings and Diane Stark Retner of the Center on Education Policy found that 71 percent of school districts reduce, at least to some degree, the amount of time spent teaching other subjects. 

Students must not simply learn how to take a test. They must also be instructed in how to take knowledge and apply it in any subject and situation. 

This style of "teaching to the test" does the most harm to students who wish to pursue their education beyond high school. They will go to college ill-equipped to perform under the different means of testing professors employ. What's worse, when they earn sub-par grades, these students tend to drop out and increase the number of casualties caused by well-intentioned but terribly flawed mandates — legislation enacted by politicians so far removed from the learning process one wonders if they would be able to learn effectively under their own guidelines.

Lopez is a creative writing senior.

Act could have serious effects on separation of church and state

CHRISTIAN PALMER: The No Child Left Behind Act has been under intense scrutiny since it was enacted in January 2002. However, it must be seen as a step in the right direction. After all, nowhere in our revered Constitution is the right to an education actually granted. The fact that the government has even attempted to make education equal on a federal level is admirable.

Its mechanics are not as admirable. People talk about how the act is under-funded, but the issue is a matter of improper dispersal of funds and the voucher program, which has been discussed as a possible addition to the act.

If students are allowed to move from one school to another simply because the school they're supposed to attend is inadequate, then money flows into the schools that are already more "adequate." The funds are not being diverted to the schools that need the money the most, which creates a vicious cycle.

What's worse is that many students flee to private schools, which are usually affiliated with a religion. The problem is not so much that the schools are religious but the fact that students may feel they are forced into such institutions because of a lack of other opportunities.

Regardless of whether it is intentional, this "inadvertent" means of corralling young minds is completely shady and not to mention inappropriate in a country that prides itself on the separation of church and state.

Palmer is a media production/sociology junior.

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