Why Our Children Are Being Left Behind by Bush's 'No Child Left Behind'

When President Bush declared, in January of 2002, that 'no child will be left behind', it was my understanding, that he meant that every child in America would be given the chance to receive a decent education. Imagine my joy when I pictured in my mind an America where every child would be taught to read, write, and do math. Children who wouldn't need a calculator to give someone their change, an America where children could write an intelligible sentence, an America where the most commonly spoken word was not 'huh'. Well I suppose it's my fault. I set myself up for a major disappointment.

It seems what our Commander in Grief was really trying to say was that no matter how miserably our children failed, they would not be held back, i.e. no child was left behind. They would, however, be educated for twelve years on how to take a test.

I have more than one personal experience concerning this matter. Just a few years ago my son Peter was in the eighth grade at a TUSD public school. He tried real hard, however he had problems in the reading and writing arena. At the end of the year, after many attempts to get him extra help so he would do better, he had below average grades. With three Fs, 2Ds, and an A, in Math, I was certain that he would be required to repeat the grade before moving on to High School. However, to my surprise the school councilor suggested that he be promoted to the 9^th grade, the first year of High School here.

Needless to say, my response was not very enthusiastic. How could a school councilor suggest that a child with a grade average below a D move onto the next grade? When I was a kid one needed at least a high D average to move onto the next grade, and even then it was suggested that the child be held behind until he or she was ready to move onto the next grade level. So I brought this question to the councilor. The response was almost as ridiculous as the original notion. He said that it was essential to the social development of the child to be educated with other children of the same age.