Utah set to reject No Child Left Behind

[Rosie]

It is almost unheard of for a state to pull out of government programs (because of the potential loss of federal dollars), but since Congress has never had any authority to legislate education, Utah's withdrawal is causing celebration among those who want the government out of education.

State's rights making a comeback or what?

Here's a Washington Times article:

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050222-111910-7518r.htm

Quote:

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Eight other state legislatures -- in Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Vermont and Virginia -- are considering challenges to No Child Left Behind.

Utah's action "sets the stage for what other states will do down the line," said Scott Young, an education policy analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver. "Other states are watching to see if the defiance convinces the federal government to be more flexible with its requirements."

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[Dr. Shane]

People hate accountability. Don't test me, just give me the money!!!

Maybe instead of testing the students every year we should test the teachers and include a grade given to them by the parents. Hmmmm, I wonder how much better they would like that. Then they wouldn't have to teach to a test since they would be the ones being tested?

[bevin]

You are right, of course.

But in this case the Fed's have tried the opposite approach - we'll test you WITHOUT giving you the money.

Personally I think education $$$ should come from federal taxes, not town taxes (NH uses town taxes). State taxes are better than town, but worse than fed.

The reasons are simple - (1) children are not going to live in the same town or state when they grow up, so the town or state does not have an interest in educating them, and (2) elimination of poverty needs the movement of dollars from the wealthy to the poor.

/Bevin