Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of columns from candidates for the 8th District seat in Congress. This week, Democratic challenger Larry Kissell discusses education. By Larry Kissell
For the Kannapolis Citizen
As a candidate for Congress and as a high school Civics teacher, I’ve been very disappointed in the government’s attempts to cure the very real problems we have in our schools with the No Child Left Behind legislation. Unfortunately, the best part of the No Child Left Behind plan is its name. We need the government’s help, not Washington’s bureaucracy.
My opponent, Congressman Robin Hayes, supports this program and has supported President George Bush in creating this program which moves our schools further and further toward doing little more than just teaching to tests. Congressman Hayes has received failing grades from numerous education organizations for his votes for children and education.
The National Education Association supports 128 bills before Congress (87 in the House) to improve the Elementary and Secondary Education Act known as No Child Left Behind. Robin Hayes has co-sponsored a total of zero and consistently earned failing grades from education groups his entire tenure in Congress.
– Hayes supported the interest of the National Association for College Admission Counseling 50 percent in 2006.
– Hayes supported the interests of the National Education Association 33 percent in 2000 and 2001, 0 percent in 2002, 17 percent in 2003, 20 percent in 2003-2004 and 0 percent in 2005-2006.
– Hayes supported the interests of the National Association for College Admission Counseling 25 percent in 2005.
– Hayes supported the interests of the National Association of Elementary School Principals 0 percent in 2005.
– Hayes supported the interests of the National Parent Teacher Association 14 percent in 1999-2000, 50 percent in 2001-2002 and 0 percent in 2003-2004.
– Hayes supported the interests of the National School Boards Association 20 percent in 2003 and 40 percent in 2003-2004.
We have to do better to attract the kind of jobs we desperately need in the 8th District.
I have put together from my real world experience in the classroom a step-by-step plan for how we reform No Child Left Behind to move our children forward. If we give our schools the funding and the flexibility to adapt for whatever challenges may arise, our schools will begin to truly leave no child behind! My plan is:
– Adequately fund the federal mandates. If our federal government deems anything important enough to mandate and usurp states’ authority, as does NCLB, then that mandate should quite simply be fully funded. NCLB in its current form is an intrusion into state’s rights and is woefully under funded.
– Reduce the punitive nature while maintaining accountability. Accountability is integral to education; however, NCLB is so overtly punitive and test driven, it can create “failing schools” that for might be schools of excellence or distinction by North Carolina standards (which are nationally recognized as very high). Our children shouldn’t get the impression their school is substandard if it truly isn’t, and our teachers shouldn’t get the message they should teach to tests. In its current form, NCLB punishes an entire school or system if one subgroup fails to meet standards. We should limit the corrective actions to the subgroup having trouble, rather than give the entire school a failing grade.
– Move to growth modules that treat students as individuals. We should base the success of students and teachers on growth modules, measuring progress for an individual child taking into account his or her level of ability instead of lumping all children into a preconceived standard level of accomplishment. Students and teachers should be judged on whether the student is performing at ability level, above or below.
– Flexibility for hiring highly qualified teachers. While we certainly wish for all classes to be staffed by proven, “highly qualified” instructors as demanded by NCLB, the reality is that our educational system cannot find enough such personnel to fill all vacancies. We need to encourage professionals from other fields to move into teaching and make it possible for them to teach while becoming “qualified.” We need good people in the classrooms now.
– Stop penalizing diversity. The more subgroups a school has, the more opportunities it has for failure. Some schools have five or six subgroups, while schools in my home county have anywhere from 15 to 26 subgroups. Remember, if any one subgroup fails, the whole school fails. Therefore, the more diversified the population, the more subgroups that have to show proper Adequate Yearly Progress. There is also a need to show flexibility for schools with larger populations of exceptional children and English as a second language students. Quite simply, and for many reasons, many of these students are not prepared to advance as now required by NCLB while the rest of the school is moving ahead, yet penalized by NCLB.
These reforms that I will work to make as your new representative in Congress will ensure we really do leave no child behind.