QUOTE
Taking A Closer Look At NCLB
Katherine Stoll
Michigan City High School
There are two sides to every story. At first glance, the six-year run of the No Child Left Behind Act does not stand a chance in Michigan City Area Schools. Take a second look past President Bush's dull quotes, and the program shows promise.
NCLB simply wants every student to "learn to read and do math at, or above, grade level," Bush said. Each school district in the United States is rated on test scores, expulsions and attendance. Students are separated into eight sub groups determined by race, learning disabilities and free or reduced lunch. Each sub group has a score it must pass.
When a school does not reach its Annual Yearly Progress, there are consequences.
The problem for Michigan City High School is that the small percentage of students who do not pass ISTEP and miss school regularly do not care. Every student can learn. It's the will to learn that each student must possess to succeed.
Bush and Congress hold "schools accountable for making sure we achieve our goal." I would love to agree with Bush, but a teacher, counselor and school system only can push a student so far until he/she decides he/she wants to learn.
Michigan City High School offers great after-school programs, as well as tutor help, during school hours. All anyone has to do is ask. The counselor's office holds daily study sessions. The National Honor Society requires its members to come in after school and help tutor students.
The high school is closely watched by the state because of our failure to improve on our AYP. The school is forced to put a lot of time and money into helping students who did not pass.
"I believe that the students who want to succeed, want to go to college and students who want to maintain their GPA are the ones affected by the NCLB Act," senior Anna Carlson said. "All the attention is given to the students with low test scores, most of whom don't care."
Most money given to schools is used to help enrich students with low test scores. But in the long run, helping students in need will help us all.
"Bringing back the Alternative School would help the students that are behind in their studies reach their potential," senior Emily Cass said.
Learning often is spoon-fed to high-schools students. Many take advantage of this and soak in all the information they can plus more. The other few go along for the ride, taking nothing more than 2+2=4 away from their priceless, privileged educational experience.
Katherine Stoll, a Michigan City High School senior, is a student-columnist for The News-Dispatch. Views expressed are the writer's, not the school's nor the newspaper's.
Katherine Stoll
Michigan City High School
There are two sides to every story. At first glance, the six-year run of the No Child Left Behind Act does not stand a chance in Michigan City Area Schools. Take a second look past President Bush's dull quotes, and the program shows promise.
NCLB simply wants every student to "learn to read and do math at, or above, grade level," Bush said. Each school district in the United States is rated on test scores, expulsions and attendance. Students are separated into eight sub groups determined by race, learning disabilities and free or reduced lunch. Each sub group has a score it must pass.
When a school does not reach its Annual Yearly Progress, there are consequences.
The problem for Michigan City High School is that the small percentage of students who do not pass ISTEP and miss school regularly do not care. Every student can learn. It's the will to learn that each student must possess to succeed.
Bush and Congress hold "schools accountable for making sure we achieve our goal." I would love to agree with Bush, but a teacher, counselor and school system only can push a student so far until he/she decides he/she wants to learn.
Michigan City High School offers great after-school programs, as well as tutor help, during school hours. All anyone has to do is ask. The counselor's office holds daily study sessions. The National Honor Society requires its members to come in after school and help tutor students.
The high school is closely watched by the state because of our failure to improve on our AYP. The school is forced to put a lot of time and money into helping students who did not pass.
"I believe that the students who want to succeed, want to go to college and students who want to maintain their GPA are the ones affected by the NCLB Act," senior Anna Carlson said. "All the attention is given to the students with low test scores, most of whom don't care."
Most money given to schools is used to help enrich students with low test scores. But in the long run, helping students in need will help us all.
"Bringing back the Alternative School would help the students that are behind in their studies reach their potential," senior Emily Cass said.
Learning often is spoon-fed to high-schools students. Many take advantage of this and soak in all the information they can plus more. The other few go along for the ride, taking nothing more than 2+2=4 away from their priceless, privileged educational experience.
Katherine Stoll, a Michigan City High School senior, is a student-columnist for The News-Dispatch. Views expressed are the writer's, not the school's nor the newspaper's.