Can every child learn to read by third grade? Or be proficient in math at their respective grade level?
Some in Clarkston feel no, this is pushing children too fast and too hard. But members of our federal government believe it can be done and implemented the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002.
The legislation affects only Title 1 schools; those schools with a percentage of lower income enrollment. The Clarkston district has three: Andersonville Elementary, North Sashabaw Elementary and Sashabaw Middle School.
The goals of the act are to see all students attain proficiency or better in reading and mathematics by 2013-14; all limited English students become proficient in English; and all teachers be highly qualified by 2005-06.
These aims will be monitored through annual testing requirements, seeing the schools meet an adequate yearly progress standards developed by the state through the Education Yes legislation which relies heavily on the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) tests.
As part of the No Child Left Behind, starting in 2005-06 students in third through eighth grade will participate in annual reading and math assessments. And starting in 2007-08, students will undergo a science assessment at least once in elementary, middle and high school, among other evaluations to be implemented.
If schools fail to meet an adequate yearly progress, will face tough consequences. In a worst case scenario, failing to meet the state’s adequate yearly progress for five years in a row will mean a school must either reopen as a charter school, replace all or most of the relevant staff, allow for state takeover or go into private management.
Clarkston Community Schools Superintendant Dr. Al Roberts said the concept behind No Child Left Behind is noble, but he disagrees with the manner of implementation.
“There are no excuses, and educators should be held accountable; but measuring performance mainly on the basis of one test (MEAP) is a simpleminded and an inaccurate way to view the multiple intelligences of children. Furthermore, ignoring the differences that exist among students/families will not lead to effective learning.”
Roberts said kids don’t learn to walk at the same age, begin to talk at the same age, and “even in suburban communities, like Clarkston, some youngsters come to school not knowing a nursery rhyme or having any experience with books.”
So, they begin school behind the norm of other student levels, making it harder to pull them up to the level they need to be.
“That doesn’t mean they won’t learn or that they are failures,” he said, adding there are other factors that can also make it difficult to bring every student at the same level at the same time including physical disabilities, mental capacity and readiness to learn.
Mary Ann Heil, a pediatric medical assistant and Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) coach at Clarkston Medical Group, agrees.
Heil has worked in pediatric medicine for 25 years. She says the United States, along with Germany, has the highest percentage of learning disabilities because children are pushed.
Finland has the lowest amount of learning disabilities, a country that doesn’t begin to teach their children to read until the age of seven, which is second grade, Heil said.
“In my opinion, we push our kids too soon. They are doing things in kindergarten they shouldn’t be doing until second or third grade,” she said. “The brain develops in stages and the brain has to go through those stages.”
For example, a child is not going to be able to sit up until he or she has learned to rollover, a child can’t walk until they learn how to stand up, and so on, she explained.
Heil said the No Child Left Behind is a fine idea, but mandates on children should be left to the educators, it should not be political.
“We’re putting our children on an agenda instead of letting them work at their own pace. No one should be put on an agenda. How can they ever succeed?”
Roberts said, “Clarkston Community Schools will continue to provide a quality education for the youngsters of our community. No Child Left Behind has always been our philosophy, and we will not sway from this commitment.”