Missing the Mark

There is no doubt that the public education system in the U.S. has had its ups and downs, and at present, it seems that it's more down than up.  However, with the enactment of No Child Left Behind in 2002, the  seriousness of our failing education system became painfully clear.  The fact that our schools are failing is a matter on which most all educators can agree.  In a Time Magazine article, Alex Tehrani agrees, stating that "NCLB proponents and critics alike agree that the law's greatest accomplishment has been shining an unforgiving spotlight on...schools and demanding that  they do better" (Tehrani).  The problem with this unified stance in terms of what NCLB has done for public education is that the "agreeing" stops exactly where it started: there is a problem.

Rooted in the "reward/punishment" philosophy of human behavior, NCLB strives for tangible results through a set of rewards and punishments for teachers and schools.  These "results" are a function of annual standardized testing that focus primarily on math and reading, and it's this testing that has been the catalyst for the arguments of many teachers, parents, and administrators.  The crux of the argument doesn't rest upon whether or not schools should make changes or whether or not they can produce results.  In fact, results are the one thing that teachers, parents, and administrations can agree upon.  The question at  the moment that poses that greatest challenge is "how" to attain and measure these desired results.   

What About the ROOTS?

Any educated landscaper that's worth his salt will tell you that the quickest way to green up your grass is to add some nitrogen, Ammonium Nitrate to be exact.  That same "educated landscaper", if he is worth his salt, will also tell you that adding Ammonium Nitrate to your lawn is also the worst thing that you can do for your grass.  Yes, it is true that adding Ammonium Nitrate to your lawn does a quick job of greening up your grass, with the blade of the grass receiving the most benefits (primarily aesthetic); however, just like most quick fixes, Ammonium Nitrate is fast acting, short lived, and doesn't support the growth of the root system.  This unbalanced approach to fertilization ultimately leaves the grass susceptible to disease and weakens its ability to endure hash weather conditions.

Similar to the effects that Ammonium Nitrate has on grass, the present education policy in the U.S. has narrowed its focus and stressed quick and visible results instead of dealing with the root of the problem.  David Bornstein, in his New York Times blog, agrees stating that "in response to the No Child Left Behind act, nearly half of all school districts in the country have shifted large chunks of time to math and reading instruction in order to improve student test scores."

PLEASE!...I Promise This is Important

One of the greatest challenges in any classroom is answering the question as to how to motivate students to learn.  There is of course, the age-old approach of the grand monologue, in which the distinguished teacher proclaims the importance of education and the power of knowledge before his or her students; however, as many teachers will attest to, no matter how honed a teacher’s persuasive powers are, this attempt to persuade students is like applying a surface anesthetic, very seldom does it penetrate to the depths needed.  At best this approach gives an understanding of the importance of learning, but it falls well short of actually motivating students to actually put into practice what they know is important.