The following post has status hidden:
No Child Left Behind?
by Deanna Taylor •
Friday October 04, 2002 at 03:37 PM
deesings@xmission.com
The "No Child Left Behind Act" really ensures that, indeed, no child is left behind - and not just for educational reasons.
I am a parent. I am a public school teacher. I am a concerned citizen. The beginning of this school year was filled with accelades of Bush's "No Child Left Behind Act", as well as orders to comply with the act in my classroom instruction. Two district inservice days were spent in meaningless gibberish about how I can incorporate certain "teach to the test" strategies to make sure that all students will not be "left behind".
I decided to take it upon myself, with the help of my husband, to start reading the pages of endless (or so it seems) sections of this act. Our reading brought us to section 9528.
Section 9528 of the "No Child Left Behind Act" states that ALL records of secondary school students MUST be given to military recruiters upon request.
Horror! Gasp! Gulp! What????
After re-reading this section, I asked myself, first,
what does this have to do with "education"?
(Besides my own, I don't have an answer yet from people queried by myself.)
Upon further reading, I discovered that section 9528 provides for an "opt out" after school districts have notified all parents of such, which they must have done 120 days after the NCLB Act became law (which it did in early 2002). To the best of my knowledge, Utah school districts have not complied with this.
I promptly notified my son's school and school district of my request to opt out via written letter. I demanded acknowledgement of receipt of the letter as well as acknowledgement that they will comply with my request. The school, but not the distrcit, has acknowledged receipt of my request and willingness to comply. I also emailed the state office of education with the question of how the state of Utah has complied with Section 9528 of the NCLB Act (without giving a narrative of the section). Here is the response I received:
"Thank you for sharing your concern. I will follow up on this matter to make certain you get accurate information on this issue. I believe parents are asked on school registration cards whether contact information can be shared with various entities, including armed forces recruiters and post-secondary educational institutions, and that parents can indicate their desire not to have this information shared. I have placed a phone call to the USOE attorney to double check this information. You may also want to check with your district office or school.
As stated in the section to which you have referred, it is the responsibility of the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense to notify schools of this requirement. "
I think she had no idea what this section is.
I also contacted the ACLU. Here is the response:
"In many instances the federal government can withhold public funding unless public schools agree to implement certain federal programs. This seems to fall within that category of public funding. I do not
see any blatant constitutional problems with the law itself because of the opt out policy. However, if you are concerned you should start by finding out when the law goes into effect.
It appears from the section you sent me that schools
must come into compliance 120 days after the act was
passed. Further, you will want to inform your school in writing that you do not want your students information shared with army recruiters. It appears that even if the school did not send you a letter, you can write to them and opt out.
Finally, you should write a letter to your school district asking why you have not received a letter allowing your student to opt out of the Act, making a reference to that part of the statute. It may end up that Utah school's have not come into compliance yet, have received some extra time to do so, or the school simply has not complied with the law. If it ends up that the law is in effect and letters have not been mailed, please let me know and I will look into this further. "
Needless to say, I am not satisfied with the "answers" I have received. I am continuing my effort to get concrete answers to my questions. I do not feel that this section even belongs in a governmental education act that is supposed to improve the education that our children receive. I feel that it is a violation of privacy and civil liberties and that my tax dollars are being used in a way that is NOT conducive to educating our children via the implementation of this section.
As a concerned citizen, I have urged everyone I know to read this section and then contact their local school, district superintendent, and school board, as well as the state office of education with their concerns (maybe even representatives) - even if they do not have children in school.
I will update information as I receive it and will be interested to read any comments from readers.
Here is the link to the actual page of the sections:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA02/
Here is the link to the home page of the site.
http://www.nochildleftbehind.gov/
Contact for Utah State Office of Education:
Laurie Lacy
llacy@usoe.k12.ut.us
NCLB Act info page on the state office of ed site:
http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/nclb/default.htm
AN American
by Mark Jones
Friday January 10, 2003 at 09:50 AM
Do you think that the tax dollars paid are only yours? Do you also believe that tax dollars are spent only on education? Who should the military recruit? Anyone except your students?
How do we as a nation fill the ranks of the services without making young people aware of what the military has to offer? You have your view that is based on what factual information about what it is like to serve? Did you see a movie? Search the net? Maybe you heard from someone who knew someone that was in! Are you qualified to guide children away from service to thier country?
A college education is a very important to SOME people. It is not a guarantee for a successful financial life. Many people in the military do get their education while serving and do not have student loans to worry about.
You have given the problem, what is your solution? Where does this country get the men and women that protect this country? Do you care or are you just content being protected? It is always someone elses issue isn't it.
AN American
by Mark Jones
Friday January 10, 2003 at 09:54 AM
Do you think that the tax dollars paid are only yours? Do you also believe that tax dollars are spent only on education? Who should the military recruit? Anyone except your students?
How do we as a nation fill the ranks of the services without making young people aware of what the military has to offer? You have your view that is based on what factual information about what it is like to serve? Did you see a movie? Search the net? Maybe you heard from someone who knew someone that was in! Are you qualified to guide children away from service to thier country?
A college education is a very important to SOME people. It is not a guarantee for a successful financial life. Many people in the military do get their education while serving and do not have student loans to worry about.
You have given the problem, what is your solution? Where does this country get the men and women that protect this country? Do you care or are you just content being protected? It is always someone elses issue isn't it.
SNOWEN.org and VFP92
by Todd Boyle
Sunday August 31, 2003 at 04:53 PM
tboyle@rosehill.net
optout.jpg, image/jpeg, 673x439
Here in Kirkland and Seattle area we are organizing public demonstrations in front of the high schools this fall to alert students and parents, the urgency of OPT OUT forms and not to forget them!
http://snowen.org
Hope this emboldens more of you to Stretch out of the comfort zone and get out on the STREETS because we're getting NOWHERE in the school boards, the PTSAs, and in our companies and churches. 50 million people voted for BUSH. Wake up before its too late. Be disruptive. Polarize the suburbs.
Thats me in the picture I have a 16year old and I'm mad as hell, and you can quote me.
Todd Boyle CPA Kirkland WA
Compromise on recruiting
by Eric Matteson
Saturday December 27, 2003 at 09:49 AM
ericmatteson2003november@hotmail.com
I am reccommending a compromise on
recruiting. I object to the you will be drafted
anyway recruiting slogan.
As long as selective service registration is
required I reccommend opting out of recruiting
for the military. I object to Charles Rangles
proposed U.S. military draft.
Every man who volunteers to serve his country
deserves to own his own single family
home after 8 years of service.
The VA loan program should be replaced with
a VA home buying grant program.
Vote to abolish selective service
registration now.
Recruiters might be more successful at
community colleges and universities than at high
school. Most high school students are too young to
die for their country and have not yet been
rejected by many civilian employers.
For more information about the situation click on the
link
http://utah.indymedia.org/news/2003/12/7082.php#MALC23
ericmatteson2003november@hotmail.com
|
