AUTHOR: Bonnie Gardner DATE: 4/30/2008 09:31:00 AM ----- BODY:
In the inaugural podcast, Joel explains why he's here, why he's focusing on the No Child Left Behind law, and how the law became so toxic. But he needs your questions -- so ask Joel@nea.org! ---------- The transcript follows: Joel Packer Has All the Answers Podcast - May 1, 2008 Welcome to the podcast. I’m Joel Packer, Director of Education Policy and Practice at the National Education Association. For more than 20 years I’ve been at NEA helping to represent the views of educators to the Congress and four different presidential administrations. Our goal over the next several months is to keep you informed and updated on the No Child Left Behind Act and to give you a sense of what we can do together to make a difference in education policy. Let me start by saying I don’t have all the answers, but I do know why they picked this name.We are determined to be interactive. There’s a national dialogue about this law and that dialogue is going to be reflected here. Having answers means I’ll be getting questions - and you better believe, with a title like that, if I don’t HAVE the answers, I’ll get them. But the title also means I’ll be asking some questions and sharing YOUR answers. We may even have a guest from time to time. There’s an email address on the website nea.org and at the end of this podcast where you can ask me specific questions, suggest topics and share stories and tips and your experience under this law. So why focus on No Child Left Behind?First of all, since the original Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, nothing has had a more sweeping effect than NCLB. From testing to funding to the curriculum and more, NCLB reaches out and touches some aspects of almost every school. NCLB passed Congress with overwhelmingly bipartisan support in 2001, but controversy and confusion over the law among educators and the general public grows every year. And support has rapidly eroded. Even the House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, one of the original four authors of the law, recently said that NCLB “has become the most negative brand in America.” While the law officially expires September 30, it is virtually certain that due to divisions between Congress and the President, divisions in Congress between Democrats and Republicans, as well as divisions within each party, that the law will not be renewed this year. The reality however is that the law doesn’t really expire or go away. As long as Congress continues to fund the many NCLB programs including Title I, Teacher Quality grants, and after school, the law’s requirements and mandates stay in effect. What this means for all of us is a chance to influence the way the law is rewritten in the coming months into next year. Yes, 2008 is an election year and elections can make a difference in shaping policy. But this podcast won’t be about politics or elections. We’ll be talking about how the law has affected your schools and students and communities and how we can create federal policies that help rather than hurt. Why has NCLB become so toxic? We’ll explore the reasons in depth in upcoming episodes, but here’s a brief list:

In case you can’t tell, the National Education Association opposes the law and is leading the way to a fundamental overhaul. We were the first national organization to propose substantive changes and helped organize a coalition of 144 groups calling for changes. We initiated a lawsuit challenging the unfunded mandate provisions of the law and have worked with members of Congress from both parties to draft bills to change the law. There are actually 134 bills on NCLB pending in Congress that we support

…So there’s our first podcast. Stay tuned to nea.org and please, if you have a question you’d like addressed on future podcasts, a comment, or an idea or experience to share with our vast national audience – Hi Mom! – send an email to joel@nea.org. That’s joel j-o-e-l @nea.org.

Thanks.

Labels: , , ,

-------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger P.O.'ed Bill COMMENT-DATE:May 13, 2008 2:05 PM COMMENT-BODY:Ok I work in a failing Middle school and as we work harder the students still have the same problems. The increasing Hispanic population come here unable to read on on even the basic level in spanish let alone english. 2. Programs are being cut and funding is drying up for after school, Tutoring and Mentoring. 3. Teachers are being removed due to shrinking student population. They keep the class sizes at 30 per teacher. when it could be easily 10 per teacher. I see increasing bean counting and not concern for the welfare of the students and families we serve. Then they try to run in an award that harps on a business approach to serving our customers. These are childern not customers. They've done away with in house counseling and programs that served emotional problems that stem from violence in the community, what Next? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger P.O.'ed Bill COMMENT-DATE:May 13, 2008 2:11 PM COMMENT-BODY:Before NCLB we had an Award winning Staff then the Bean counter principal they ran in on us devistated the staff moving teachers until they found other schools. Surprise now we are a Failing School! All the experienced teachers have moved out of district. We used to be on TV monthly for our programs now it's for Violence and gang activity. The neighborhood hasn't changed the school has. Security is now a Joke. To make matters worse the school district is bleeding every program to start it's own Police Depertment? what the heck. Police aren't going to teach classes? 2.4 million dollars for a PD to do what? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:June 23, 2008 8:36 AM COMMENT-BODY:King Joel,
As one who knew you "when" it is no surprise that you have ALL the answers.
TD -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:August 27, 2008 2:34 PM COMMENT-BODY:Solving the H-1B Visa Issue

Written today in response to the above, but it does pertain to education.

Let's not re-build the broken dyke; let's just put a Band-aid over the hole and ignore the leak.

The SOLUTION is not to import more educated foreign workers and give them H-1B visas, but to EDUCATE the kids we already have today in schools, and radically shake up the current public school system.

Coming from the technology sector and holding resident alien status, I switched my profession recently to take up teaching. I have worked thus far in 30 different inner city schools. Quite an eye opener. I recommend every member of congress do a stint in an inner city high school, then come back and make recommendations (and funding cuts).

Believe me, America is turning out trained monkeys. Monkeys to work in McDonalds that is. Monkeys fully accepting of mediocrity.

America is pandering to a gangster/hip hop/jive ass/lawyered-up mentality. The American school system is so afraid of being strict, of being sued, and of being politically INcorrect; they are fostering and breeding consistent underachievers, dropouts and failures.

We don't need more foreign, educated workers; we need to grow some nuts and stand up and call it what it really is: the American [public] education system is designed to spew out dummies by the boat load. The system is broken and snarled up by silly laws, lawyers, and law suits to the detriment of the student body and the nation. We are all guilty of doing our students a grave disservice.

First, I say segregate the schools based on ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. Super smart kids, smart kids, not-so-smart kids, and dunces. That way, the thugs don't disrupt and drag down the achievers in the class, and the teacher can concentrate on teaching instead of playing prison guard, babysitter (or gunslinger).

The super smart kids are groomed for the Ivy League universities and become scientists/technologists. The smart kids become doctors/lawyers. The not-so-smart kids fill all the drone jobs, and the dunces go and do drugs, rob 7-11s, give birth to illegitimate babies, etc. Not every kid has Einstein DNA...

Second, teach in CONTEXT. Today's kids are plugged into technology: iPods, cell phones, laptops, e-mail, texting, social networking, etc. You can't TEACH technology if the technology is not available in the school for every child to use. (NO MORE FOREIGN AID UNTIL EVERY AMERICAN KID HAS A SCHOOL COMPUTER)! Charity begins at home.

Third, parents and kids sign contracts with the school stating they understand that being in a certain grade is a PRIVILEGE and that behavior/homework infractions mean a demotion to the next lower grade. (Hello America, it is time to hold kids accountable for their behavior and actions)! Kids need to learn early on that EXCELLENCE is expected of them, and parents are required to enforce that sentiment. No frivolous lawsuits please because Johnnie screwed up and got bumped down. Tough, now Johnnie can EARN his way back up by working harder or altering his bad behavior. Also, teachers won't need to "pass" Johnnie just for the sake of stats or because he's lazy or a problem.

Let's call a spade a spade. Lousy, lazy, illiterate parents are half the problem. This star-struck fascination with the Britney Spears/50 Cent mentality contributes too, but I believe that kids are not taught that excellence is the ultimate expectation, and that hard work and a good education is the road to success. Kids need to be allowed to excel. They need a school doctrine that strives for achievement, and a safe learning environment in the classroom without the constant interruptions of dunces and thugs. Smart kids need to hang with smart kids and be taught by the best and most qualified teachers...this is the only way we will turn out technologically savvy students.

Recap:
1. Classrooms based on academic achievement.
2. Teach in [technological] context. Update/upgrade school computer equipment.
3. Raise the standards of behavior and expectations of students, parents and teachers. Emphasis on education.

Mediocrity is not an option unless America is OK with becoming a third world nation. No. It is time for America to wake up and smell the simmering fish heads, or brush up on Chinese to schmooze the boss. --------