Those of you who follow this blog are probably aware of how steamed I am about NCLB (The Federal No Child Left Behind Act) mainly because it mandates how/what a teacher must teach, and has resulted in a stale "teaching to the test" curriculum in our public schools. This method of teaching is detrimental to our children because it stifles creativity and critical thinking, and hinders meaningful learning. As a former teacher, I can tell you that things have really changed in public education, and I don't like what I see. When I taught elementary art 10 years ago in urban Allentown schools, students put on plays in the classroom, made art projects, science and history were important subjects, and there was teaching across the curriculum (i.e. integration of all subjects to help kids make connections and be engaged in learning.) I don't see this happening at my son's school, and I am not happy about it.Should parents just accept the crummy curriculum? Well, the NCLB Act is law until 2012, so there is not much we can do about what is taught in the classroom. I am not happy about the fact that Obama has not just done away with NCLB altogether. That would be REAL CHANGE I could believe in.
There is a way parents can have a voice, and try to fill the creativity void: get involved with your school's PTA. That's where you can develop enrichment activities and programs for kids. And the kids really need it. I serve on the Board of my son's school PTA, and I chair the Reflections Art Program, Craft Day, and help with most special events. We just had a really cool science program for the kids at our last PTA meeting. Find your niche, and volunteer, even if it's just an hour a week, it does make a big difference. There are many committees and opportunities for parents and community members. It is very rewarding work, and the kids really do appreciate it.
The National PTA has important purposes and goals:
To promote the welfare of the children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
To raise the standards of home life.
To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.
To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.
To raise the standards of home life.
To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.
To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.
Read more here: http://www.pta.org/1162.asp
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16 comments:
This is such an importrant issue, I hope President Obama dismantles NCLB ASAP after 2012.
Another terrific post Villas, thank you...
In a word: inspiring.
Thanks for the comments!
NCLB was intended to be a progressive/bipartisan legislation to help ALL kids achieve, especially the disadvantaged kids growing up in poverty, but Bush never delivered on the funding he promised for programs that would help those kids. Ted Kennedy was instrumental in crafting the NCLB legislation, and he wrote in his book that NCLB was "underfunded, mismanaged, and poorly implemented"
"a spectacular broken promise of the Republican administration and Congress." And that "America's children deserved better."
Angie, I see something deeper than PTA - parental involvement in their kid's lives. Too often schools, teachers and administrators, have been thrust into the role that parents are not filling.
That to me is one of the biggest problems we face.
I agree with Anon 10:31pm. Also, some parents who are very much involved in their own kids' lives might be against helping other parents' kids by creating enriching activities for everyone (on the tune of: you'll never know, little Bobby might compete with little Billy when they apply for college ten years from now). Instead, they'll sign up their own kids to a ton of extracurricular activities or extra-tutoring to give them an edge.
I'm convinced some parents (hopefully not a lot) join the PTA just to have an "in" with their child's teachers or to network and make friends among other parents and share the latest gossip but not so much to help the kids. I'm not on any PTA but my mom used to be and that's how she felt. Congrats to you, Angie, for joining the PTA to promote the causes you believe in, such as art education in the schools.
It seems there's often either under- or over-involvement from parents in their kids' lives but it's hard to strike a balance between the two.
"Congrats to you, Angie, for joining the PTA to promote the causes you believe in, such as art education in the schools."
Kudos to both Villas for authoring this brave blog and for steadfastly maintaining it in the face of relentless (and illegal) attempts to sabotage their noble efforts. I pray for you both every day that you maintain your strength and determination.
Thank you, Amy, your prayers are much appreciated and we're happy to report that they're working very well :) so let's stay on Mrs. Dottie's excellent topic (thanks again)
Anon 10:31- Yes, parents do need to be a lot more involved in their kids' lives, and the PTA is a way they can do that.
Anon 8:14 The way I see it is that if you are helping someone else's kid, that's gonna eventually help improve the quality of life for all of us. Unfortunately there are self-absorbed and overly competitive parents. I don't run across too many of those types, I think most parents want to boost the school as a whole, not just their own little precious ones.
Thanks Amy.
Hi Mrs Dottie,
what are the events organized by the PTA at your son's school? How many events are there each year? Do you think there should be more? What if parents want to help their kids and their neighbors' kids but have no idea what would make a good event for a class of third graders?
Thanks for the great post!
Hello Villas,
sorry for the off-topic comment (great post, Mrs Villa!) but I found a hilarious comment on Amazon.com about Sarah Palin's book and I wanted to share it with other liberals.
As you know there aren't a lot of liberal blogs around here, so here I am typing this on your blog. Anyway, don't let the 5-star rating fool you and make sure you read the whole thing! It's a great spoof.
"Ain't afraid of no Vietcong king" by "Gen. JC Christian, patriot"
http://www.amazon.com/review/R35WSCBIWF503D/ref=cm_cd_pg_pg2?ie=UTF8&cdPage=2
(If you go to the Amazon.com page of Going Rogue, this should be the first review that shows up.)
Made me laugh real hard.
Here's a link ...
Oh man that MADE OUR DAY! Thanks! Love the "reviewer's" picture! Mrs. D will be back soon, she's volunteering at school.
Thanks for the link to the review of Sarah Palin's new book, that was hysterical!
To answer anon 1:53's questions:
There are many PTA events at school, some are fundraisers, some are not. Major events include a Halloween Haunted Hop Dance,Winter Craft Day,Reflections Celebration of the Arts,FunFest(Carnival),Let the Good Times Roll(Bowling), Basket Bingo, Book Bingo. At our monthly meetings we have an educational demonstration, activity or performance for the kids. The PTA also sponsors field trips,school assemblies, artist in residencies, after school clubs. It's really a lot of extra stuff for our kids. Oh and the PTA also buys books for the kids. There's probably a lot I am leaving out.
Oh, we are trying to get new playground equipment too.
We have a large PTA membership (I believe close to 200 members) so we do a lot more than most ASD schools. Hey, wanna buy some cookie dough? That's our latest fundraiser.
This is such a great blog!
"This is such a great blog!"
(Oui) Merci.
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