Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
Home > Blogs > Springfield Schools News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > February > 25 > Entry
What’s in a name? No Child Left Behind
The often-lambasted No Child Left Behind Act may be adopting a new name.
New Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently proposed renaming the law to shrug off negative associations of what one lawmaker called “the most negative brand in America” during NCLB’s reauthorization, the New York Times reports.
As one might imagine this has spurred several jokes, particularly in the blogosphere, as wisecrackers sarcastically propose new monikers.
It’s true that “No Child Left Behind” isn’t very popular, particularly with educators. But almost every educator I know would agree with NCLB’s noble goal - to ensure that all children, regardless of disability, socio-economic status, race, etc., receives an adequate education with the opportunity to succeed.
The sticking point is typically the definition of “success” - is that the same for every child? The implementation and some of the requirements are also heavily criticized.
“No Child Left Behind” is also inseparably linked to former President George W. Bush, the law’s champion, who, according to the Times, started using similar phrases as Texas governor in the 1990s. (There’s a statue of Bush signing it into law in Hamilton, Ohio, pictured above). Toward the end of his presidency, Bush had a pretty low approval rating, below 30 percent.
This wouldn’t be the first time an education law changed its name. “No Child Left Behind” is actually a descendant of the 1985 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, renamed “Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994” upon its reauthorization under former President Bill Clinton, although that name didn’t really catch on.
Do you think No Child Left Behind would benefit from a new name? Any suggestions?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: No Child Left Behind
Comments
By Leonard
February 26, 2009 8:40 AM | Link to this
I could give a very lenghly and impressive scenario on this topic, however, garbage by any other name still smells.By flipper
February 26, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this
It should have been left behind long ago because nothing has changed since it started. Parents give up on their children and abdicate responsibility to teachers and social workers.By drysr
February 26, 2009 6:47 PM | Link to this
A bad law is still a bad law. Changing it’s name won’t matter. NCLB stinks and will always stink no matter what the name is. And with regards to the goal of the law, I am tired of hearing about its lofty goals. It was designed to “take down” public schools and at the same time make test companies rich. Let’s just leave NCLB behind once and for all. NCLB damages and does not add value. I for one am sick and tired of it. The only thing that is needed to be successful is to question the status quo and authority. But, of course, questioning the status quo and authority will never be written in any kind of standard or law. Like Homeland Security, NCLB is an oxymoron.