Leave No Child Behind, Essay Example

Since the 1980s, both Republicans and Democratic presidents in the same way, and scores of state and local officials, have endorsed their higher educational standards, championed nationwide goals including drug-fee schools and worldwide graduation, and, in the recentepitome of reform, promised to “leave no child behind”. Reese (2011) argued that theshrewd politicians often cuddle utopian claims about what schools can achieve, and everyone aspiring to office seems to be an academic reformer. Their decentralized nature makes their reform and changemeticulously slow and annoying to reformers of all political stripes, particularly when they are trying to address the problems that instigate outside school classrooms and corridors.

What is going to become of America if students are raised in an environment where accountability is the name of game rather than the pursuit of knowledge and lifelong learning? Farenga et al (2011, p. xi) argued that efforts to “leave no child behind” should not just be a question of meeting adequate annual progress. It should be a matter of ensuring that all students become proactive, engaged, and self-empowered so that they themselves do not want to be left behind.

Spring (2005) argued that additional programs and interventions need to be developed to curtail the increasing rate of middle school dropouts after the sixth grade, especially for the young male population.Two challenges must be addressed: minimizing the rate of high school dropouts and funding venues for dropouts and adult learners to acquire secondary and post-secondary education along with marketable skills elevate their socio-economic status. He (2005) further stressed that the nation must focus on creating an environment of lifelong learning.

References

Farenga, Stephen J., & Ness, Daniel, & Johnson, Bonnie, & Johnson, Dale D. (2011). The Importance of Average: Playing the Game of School to Increase Success and Achievement. Rowman & Littlefield.

Reese, William J. (2011). America’s Public Schools: From the Common School to “No Child Left Behind”. JHU Press.

Spring, J. (2005). The American School 1642-2004.New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.