Posted by
Waski_the_Squirrel on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 6:14:55 PM
Previously, I raised the question of whether it was possible to truly leave
no child behind. My answer is "NO." This is a disturbing answer when it comes from an educator and it reeks of elitism or worse. So let me explain.
Goals
Different kids have different goals. This is one of the weaknesses of No Child Left Behind. Currently, education seems focused on college. The truth is that not everyone will go to college. This is not an intelligence issue. It is a personality issue. It is also a practical issue. Not all careers require a college education.
Some sort of post-secondary education should be in most students' plans, but it may take a lot of different forms. Some are very practical: welding, machining, wiring. Others are more theoretical or bookish.
As a culture, we seem to have decided that those who don't go to college are somehow less intelligent or less ambitious. This is not true. Thomas Stanley's book
The Millionaire Next Door noted that a surprising number of first generation millionaires do not have college educations. These are people who were successful because they were ambitious, did not give up, could face failure, could take risks, and because they found something they were passionate about. Don Aslett turned a college job as a janitor into a multi-million dollar janitorial service.
Our schools are only serving one segment of their population. NCLB only measures the performance on the goals of that one segment.
Environment
We aren't all privileged to grow up with middle class values. These are values of hard work, self-reliance, and the value of education. Some children are brought up to believe that they are victims of external forces. I have these children in my classes as well as other types.
I teach students who really believe that the grade they get in my class comes from how I feel about them. I've had parents tell me with a straight face that teachers are out to get their family. Apparently the teachers get together at the beginning of the year to choose which kids we're going to pick on for the year. (And you wondered why teachers go back to school before students!)
How does one reach this type of student? It can be done, but it's difficult. I've reached a few. I've also failed. Because of the home environment and other factors, there are students who will not be reached. We try, but they won't.
These students will not buy into our school's mission. In severe cases, such as the inner city or the reservations, these students will resist any attempt to improve in any way. Any change in culture will take a generation or two. Schools rarely plan like that.
Students will be left behind in our current system if they don't have a college focus or if they come from a background that is hostile to education or even success. Naturally, I can't leave it here without proposing solutions. Stay tuned!