Candidates split on NCLB

Obama's education speech

Susan Kaiser Greenland on Obama's speech

Advertisement from Educators Roundtable

NCLB: Abolish or revise, Part II
Last month in this space I suggested that asking Congress to modify the No Child Left Behind Act would yield better results for kids in schools than asking Congress to abolish it. A couple of NET members whose opinions I respect disagreed. One suggested that the NET had "caved." The other, in language more colorful than mine, compared modifying NCLB to modifying bodily waste. As far as I know, neither of my critics has worked Capitol Hill recently, and that is perhaps why both feel as they do.

First, I agree that it should be abolished. However, I have been in the offices of perhaps fifteen senators and House members specifically to discuss NCLB, and I am aware of the sentiments of dozens more. At this point the climate on the Hill is not hospitable to abolishing the law. Although teachers detest it, it is popular with voters in general, and insistent pressure to abolish it only rouses Congressional ire. Having annoyed Congress members, we do not then persuade them. Unless perhaps it is to do the opposite of what we ask.

Further, the impending change in the executive branch, regardless of outcome, will yield a president who is unlikely to agree with abolishing the law. John McCain likes it the way it is. Barack Obama is now making better informed statements about its failings (see the articles at left), but he appears to be far from supporting its abolition.

Many readers of this newsletter are seasoned educators who are current on high-stakes testing research. Our views of what should happen to NCLB are surely better informed than those of many members of Congress. But we do not vote on the law. They do. Again, our job is to get the best deal for kids in U.S. schools that we can, and today that means remediating its most harmful consequences. Although few legislators are willing to discuss NCLB's abolition, the good news is that many now acknowledge its shortcomings and are interested in hearing proposals to address them.

Ted Kennedy's illness is likely to slow the process, since he has been the only member of Congress pushing for action on NCLB during the election season. If the wind should change on the Hill, and Congress becomes open to abolishing the law, I will applaud as loudly as anyone, and the first round of drinks is on me.

Warm regards,
Dennis