Vilsack: No Child Left Behind Leaves All Children Behind

Tom Vilsack posted an article on Open Left that outlines some of the things wrong with No Child Left Behind and what we need to do to improve education.

What is the purpose of public education? Simple - every child should have what they need to realize their talents and to contribute in a meaningful way to their community and nation. Rather than a nation of average standardized test takers, our schools should help produce a nation of creative, dedicated, and engaged citizens.

For that to occur the frame of the ESEA must be changed. Instead of a frame built around student achievement based on a single, high-stakes, multiple choice test, we should advocate for a frame based on student demonstration of an array of 21st century skills: core competencies, ability to communicate, technological proficiency, problem solving, financial literacy, global awareness, community responsibility, and capacity to work within a team.

While the debate will swirl around funds, pay for performance compensation schemes, and growth models, we won't get it totally right unless we are clear about what the purpose should be of our system. We must be wary of the language of accountability that comes straight out of a corporate culture to one that speaks of shared responsibility. If we expect our children to get it right, we have to do so first.

I worked as a substitute teacher two years ago and on two occasions when I was subbing, I taught lessons on how to fill in the circles on the answer sheets to prepare for upcoming standardized tests. As I was teaching, I was thinking about how these students will never use this skill when they are adults.