Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community
A report tabled yesterday by a bipartisan panel of legislators condemns the No Child Left Behind Act, calling it "a flawed, convoluted and unconstitutional education reform initiative that had usurped state and local control of public schools." This New York article also cites criticisms of the report by a representative from the Business Roundtable.

CRLF

Perhaps some perspective, as offered by Will Richardson as he cites Ted Sizer from The Red Pencil: "The best predictor of a child's educational success always has been and still is the economic and social class of his family rather than the school that he or she happens to attend. The schools as they presently function appear, save at the well publicized margins, rarely to countervail the accidents of family, wealth and residence. 'Success,' as conventionally defined, and ultimately graduation thus depend largely on the chance of birth and income, embarrassing a democracy that pretends to offer equal educational opportunities for all."

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Mar 29, 2024 05:21 a.m.

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