No Child Left Behind?

Today's Chicago Sun Times (page 26) carried an article titled 'Long Way to go to achieve No Child Left Behind goal.' The nation's report card (NAEP) reported that fourth and eighth graders scored their best ever on the math test while making progress in reading.

The article pointed out that 'just a little more than one-third of the students were proficient or higher in reading. In math, 40% of the fourth graders and 35% of the eighth graders had reached that level.'

Don't get me wrong, I love to see the growth of students in these areas. But I tire of the end game being one of testing and testing in these two areas alone.

What is needed is comprehensive growth in all academic endeavors offered by schools. Why is it that special emphasis is place on math and reading, often to the exclusion of other subject areas? Every content area should be afforded the best curriculum and teachers possible.

Young people need as much exposure to the arts, literature, history, physical education, civics, nutrition, health, shop courses, the sciences and more as they do in reading and mathematics.

It is time for all of us to say enough to the benchmark of success, or the lack thereof, being enshrined in math and reading scores.

Thanks,
Dick