Truthfully, I’m not writing this article from a political agenda. I’m writing, as one who cares deeply about children and the education profession. I’m writing from a position as an insider. I taught in public schools for 20+ years, served as an adjunct professor in Teacher Education, and now I am an educational consultant. I work with private schools and see parents rushing to transfer their children to our school, as if they are fleeing from some monster.

Sadly, teaching according to this legislation seems to place educators  in a “social role” of compliance rather than coming into their classrooms from their “essential” nature. Most teachers will share that there is a feel in the air of a heavy duty pressure to raise test scores. Unfortunately, the passion for teaching just flows out of the classroom like a balloon without air.  Teaching has become a process to prepare students for a test. As an adjunct instructor in the school of education, I’ve had numerous opportunities to ask teachers what inspired them to choose this profession. To date, I’ve never heard the answer, “To raise Standardized Test Scores.”

Under the No Child Left Behind Legislation, schools are required to follow a “Pacing Plan” and to cover “state standards for a subject” on the day that the lesson is to be taught. I do understand the need to be accountable and that teachers are expected to cover the curriculum for their grade level. However, this pacing plan seems… READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE