No Child Left Behind.
What does that mean to you?
I bet it means something way different to you than to the people who make the laws for the school system.
To me, it means that everything possible will be done to
help every child learn.
To the schools, because of the current legislation, it means “We will teach your child what is
on the FCAT, and teach them test-taking strategies, so we look good.”
No Child Left Behind might as well be called “The Biggest
Bullshit Ever Told To Parents.” Trust
me. I have the child “left behind.”
In Kindergarten, the teacher called me in to say that he
seemed to have some physical developmental problems. I agreed, and she said she would submit him
to be evaluated. Two weeks later, was
told he didn’t meet the qualifications too.
6 years later, my 11 year old has been determined to have the fine motor
skills of a 5 year old (thus his problems cutting and coloring in kindergarten,
not to mention his current illegible writing!)…but he didn’t meet
qualifications?
Every year since, it’s been clockwork. In March, I’m told he might fail. Ok, then if he needs to fail, fail him. And give him the services he needs. Every
year he is pushed through, and just treated like any other student. Several different times I’ve re-requested
evaluation. Several different times I’ve
been denied.
Last year, he finally had a teacher who was behind me, who
encouraged me to get him evaluated privately and helped me by filling out
papers for the doctors. From those
private evaluations, which I had to pay for myself and the school should have
done years ago, I had the ammunition in the way of a medical diagnosis to fight
for a 504 plan, which he got. However,
he was doing even worse in school, so I once again requested evaluation. He
needs an IEP. And was put off. Again.
I got the letter on Thursday that he was going to be retained
in 6th grade. The day before
his last day of after-school tutoring.
The last day of after-school tutoring because FCAT’s start Monday. The last day of tutoring because all that
matters to the school is FCAT scores.
To me, I see it as the last day of tutoring because no one actually cares about the
students, just their scores.
No Child Left Behind.
Ha!
If I had to do it all over again, I’d have purposely been a
bad parent. One that let my child
misbehave and cause problems in school.
Because those are the kids that seem to get the attention. If you are good and not a problem to anyone,
you are left to the back of the line. At
the end. In the rear. BEHIND.
And that’s why they have wine!
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