Dear Bill Pascrell,
I am writing to voice my concern over the continuation of the No Child Left Behind Act. This act has served so few and so little in the areas of critical thinking. All of our students are being ignored in favor of skill drill lessons and proficiency exams, with the most damage to the gifted students.
First the matter of proficiency. The focus of the NCLB is to drill grade level skills into children so that they can pass grade level tests and become proficient in their grade. What happened to the child who already is proficient? We are neglecting our advanced proficient.
Our curriculum is lacking in creativity because teachers fear working in student's interest. Blooms taxonomy states that the higher level thinking comes with analysis, synthesis and evaluation. These areas are never touched in the NCLB curriculum. There is lack of original and creative thinking for students because preparing for bubble filling is more important. All students deserve stimulation and challenging work. But the gifted child is receiving nothing in advanced work instead it is bored with work that this child already knows. We leave little time for the teachers to differentiate for all students when we mandate a program for one purpose.....test taking and passing.
Our goal should not be to make all students one passing clump. It should be to individualize the students to make them reach their maximum potential. Their individual maximum potential. When we work with each student toward their goal we will not leave any child behind.....they all will move forward on their own path not one narrow boring path the government has established.
I am asking that we do not renew the No Child Left Behind Act. Let's move forward in rewarding schools for innovative, creative, child centered programs that push children towards their potential. We must stop punishing the schools, teachers and mostly the children with this Act. Let's think of the child that we keep leaving out.
Traci Thiele
Glen Ridge
Teacher of the Gifted Fair Lawn Schools
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Thank you for making me aware of the other side of the argument. Honestly, I rarely think about the gifted child in my classroom unless they come after school, as they often do, for one on one discussions and activities. It seems our country is so obsessed with the "majority" whatever that is that they fail to view each citizen uniquely. Of course, I agree with all that you said in the letter as well.
Well written. It reminds us that NCLB potentially leaves the opposite ends of the spectrum behind.
Post a Comment