http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6174689Okay, I'm assuming everybody knows the background here, about the "No Child Left Behind" Act, which was dreamed up by Vast Teddy sometime during the 1970s.
For years and years and years, even those years Democrats had overwhelming majorities in Congress, Vast Teddy tried getting his pet bill passed, but it was no-go.
That was, until George Bush took office in late January 2001.
This was before 9-11, and of course got buried by significant events some months later. At the time, Bush wished to appease the hostile opposition, and thought he could make Vast Teddy be nicer to him, if he did something for Vast Teddy.
Bush advisers said no, no, no; if you've got to make nice-nice with a liberal Democrat senator, make it with one who'll be nice back to you; maybe Schumer or Clinton or Levin or Leahy or Daschle, or somebody like that, somebody who'll give in exchange for having gotten. Vast Teddy won't return any favor.
But no, George Bush wanted to make nice with Vast Teddy.
And so George Bush took Vast Teddy's pet bill, which even Democrats didn't like, and rammed it through Congress, losing valuable political capital with both parties (this was the spring and summer before 9-11, remember). He had to not only arm-twist Republicans to vote for it, but Democrats too.
This was perhaps the most disastrous mistake George Bush made, in his eight years in office.
Vast Teddy got his "No Child Left Behind" Act, but never returned the favor; in fact, Vast Teddy got even more hostile, more Hate-filled.
That was the reason Vast Teddy was the only U.S. Senator never invited inside the White House between July something, 2001 and January 20, 2009.
So.....that's the background.
greenbriar (1000+ posts) Tue Jul-28-09 11:08 PM
Original message
I HATE NCLB...our district is suffering and now we teachers have taken another it We have lost 125. monthly that we were given as a bonus to teach in very high poverty schools
additionally we did not get a raise but also we do NOT get to move on our tract schedule
so all in all I have lost about 500 bucks a month due to the economy and NCLB
the sad thing is, some of that money I used to spend to bring hands on activities in my classroom so the kids can actually experience things as opposed to reading about it
projects like making soap
Panning for Gold
taking a "Lewis and Clark" expedition
those are extra expenses that made learning fun, but My bills are not being cut so I don't know if I will be able to fund those type of activities out of my pocket
Well now, the greenbriar primitive knows who to blame.
The greenbriar primitive for some odd reason repeats herself, finding copying-and-pasting easier than thinking a thought:
greenbriar (1000+ posts) Tue Jul-28-09 11:21 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. oh yea our cost is also going to rise, but we have yet to be told how much
the sad thing is, some of that money I used to spend to bring hands on activities in my classroom so the kids can actually experience things as opposed to reading about it
projects like making soap
Panning for Gold
taking a "Lewis and Clark" expedition
those are extra expenses that made learning fun, but My bills are not being cut so I don't know if I will be able to fund those type of activities out of my pocket
After which follows a discussion between the greenbriar primitive, who teaches in Wichita, and the dysmenopausal Kansas school teacher, who teaches in Kansas City:
proud2BlibKansan (1000+ posts) Tue Jul-28-09 11:27 PM
Response to Original message
4. They are laying off Social Studies teachers in my district
greenbriar (1000+ posts) Tue Jul-28-09 11:37 PM
Response to Reply #4
10. we are down to 1 SS teacher per grade level while Math and LA get 3 and they get a "learning coach" to help them plan and get resources for them
proud2BlibKansan (1000+ posts) Wed Jul-29-09 01:53 AM
Response to Reply #10
16. We don't test SS in MO; do you test it in KS?
greenbriar (1000+ posts) Wed Jul-29-09 12:39 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. 8th grade is starting to test
we piloted it last year and it goes into the program this year
greenbriar (1000+ posts) Tue Jul-28-09 11:36 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. I have a master's in sped and figure I will end up teaching it before my career is over
I just love doing what I do and feel I inspire kids to actually like history
greenbriar (1000+ posts) Tue Jul-28-09 11:52 PM
Response to Original message
15. somewhere in the news article that talked about the termination of the bonus said it saved 18 princi admin jobs and added several elementary teaching positions...
so elem teachers can have class sizes of no more than 15 but SS and Science teachers can have class sizes of 30+
Well, the greenbriar primitive knows who to blame.
