No Boondoggle Left Behind

Well, since the Baron is on the subject of idiotic school issues, we might as well look at another one.

President Bush lost my respect on domestic issues when he first agreed to sign Senator Kennedy’s mishmash program into law five years ago. He’s not regaining it with this cheerful bit of bi-partisan back-slapping. Has the man no clue?

Now, “No Child Left Behind” [a big, fat lie: there is no funding in this porker for vocational schools - a place they could be most useful] is up for renewal. Too bad the sun is going to continue shining on this fraud, but it is. And Bush will be right there, pen in hand:

President Bush pushed for renewal of the No Child Left Behind education law Monday in a meeting with congressional leaders but was noncommittal on their request for more money to help schools meet the law’s requirements.

“In our discussions today, we’ve all agreed to work together to address some of the major concerns that some people have on this piece of legislation, without weakening the essence of the bill,” Bush said following the White House meeting with Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

Blah, blah, yecch...

The law seeks to ensure all children can read and do math at grade level by 2014, which has placed many new demands on schools. They have had to step up testing, boost teacher quality and pay more attention to the achievements of minority children.

Schools that get federal aid but do not make enough progress must provide tutoring, offer public school choice to students or initiate other reforms such as overhauling their staffs.

On the other hand, -- surprise, surprise -- some of those brave people on the front lines have another point of view on this piece of trash - considering they’ve had to deal daily with its consequences for these last five years:
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The best efforts of the National Education Association and other opponents of NCLB not withstanding, we believe that reauthorization of the law will occur.

And the reason why is relatively simple.

From a lawmaker’s perspective, NCLB is as close to a perfect piece of legislation as possible in that it’s so appealing to the very voters people who will continue to re-elect them to office.

What voter parent can resist the law’s premise: If your child doesn’t master the required level of proficiency (for whatever reason) in reading, math, and science, it’s the school’s fault.

Neither voters parents nor students are held accountable by the law in any way for even making the most minimal contribution toward their own academic success.

Click the second link and read the whole thing. It seems that the ones who benefit most from this crapola are the school bullies.

It figures. Another nightmare scenario dribbling your tax dollars into the sewer.

While you’re there, stop to read about the high school cheerleaders who took over their school. It’s Mean Girls squared, but in real life. I can’t wait to see the movie. Whatcha wanna bet it will be in local theatres just as soon as the fires are out?