Comments on: Ready but not proficient http://www.joannejacobs.com/2010/02/ready-but-not-proficient/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: Bill http://www.joannejacobs.com/2010/02/ready-but-not-proficient/#comment-54905 Bill Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:57:20 +0000 http://www.joannejacobs.com/?p=13431#comment-54905 The previous program to NCLB was Goals 2000, started by the Clinton administration. It ran for 12-14 years, and failed to achieve a SINGLE stated goal while spending who knows how much money. It seems to me that the concept of one failed program after another is routine in education anymore (and our population is being dumbed down with each passing year). The end result of a under-educated population is that it is very easy for a government to control (look at history if anyone needs proof). The previous program to NCLB was Goals 2000, started by the Clinton administration. It ran for 12-14 years, and failed to achieve a SINGLE stated goal while spending who knows how much money.

It seems to me that the concept of one failed program after another is routine in education anymore (and our population is being dumbed down with each passing year).

The end result of a under-educated population is that it is very easy for a government to control (look at history if anyone needs proof).

]]> By: Fred Deutsch http://www.joannejacobs.com/2010/02/ready-but-not-proficient/#comment-54904 Fred Deutsch Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:46:20 +0000 http://www.joannejacobs.com/?p=13431#comment-54904 The administration blames its lack of clarity in explaining health care reform to the American public as the reason its faltered. Will education face the same fate, for the same reason? The administration blames its lack of clarity in explaining health care reform to the American public as the reason its faltered. Will education face the same fate, for the same reason?

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://www.joannejacobs.com/2010/02/ready-but-not-proficient/#comment-54903 uberVU - social comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:18:43 +0000 http://www.joannejacobs.com/?p=13431#comment-54903 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by JoanneLeeJacobs: Huh? Duncan says NCLB proficiency goal is utopian, calls for higher standards http://www.joannejacobs.com/2010/02/ready-but-not-proficient/... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by JoanneLeeJacobs: Huh? Duncan says NCLB proficiency goal is utopian, calls for higher standards http://www.joannejacobs.com/2010/02/ready-but-not-proficient/...

]]> By: allen http://www.joannejacobs.com/2010/02/ready-but-not-proficient/#comment-54902 allen Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:38:15 +0000 http://www.joannejacobs.com/?p=13431#comment-54902 All these well-paid, deep-thinkers working so hard to avoid the obvious. Lowering standards in the face of a demand from above to meet standards is being done because it can be done. What stands in the way of states responding to pressure from school boards and teacher's unions to do so? Nothing. There being no impediment to this convenient response, that's the direction the states go. The response to NCLB reveals the necessity for NCLB: there's no agency that relentlessly pursues educational quality so there's no reason for the people charged with educating kids to do so. The fact that the state education agencies have lowered their standards to meet the demands of NCLB highlights the importance placed on education. Gaming the system so as to present the illusion that kids are being educated is a perfectly valid response by the people who are ostensibly charged with educating kids. All these well-paid, deep-thinkers working so hard to avoid the obvious.

Lowering standards in the face of a demand from above to meet standards is being done because it can be done. What stands in the way of states responding to pressure from school boards and teacher’s unions to do so? Nothing. There being no impediment to this convenient response, that’s the direction the states go.

The response to NCLB reveals the necessity for NCLB: there’s no agency that relentlessly pursues educational quality so there’s no reason for the people charged with educating kids to do so. The fact that the state education agencies have lowered their standards to meet the demands of NCLB highlights the importance placed on education. Gaming the system so as to present the illusion that kids are being educated is a perfectly valid response by the people who are ostensibly charged with educating kids.

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