Californian teachers oppose Democrats reauthorising of NCLB

South Australian teachers may like to read the statement below from the Californian Teachers Association.

Under the Bush regime, education in the US has been gutted by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Bill. This Bill has provided Howard and his succession of Education Ministers with the ideological framework for the imposition of so-called national standards testing.

Regrettably, Labor is playing much the same role as the Democrats in the US, pandering to populist misconceptions fostered by the Government of the day.

As progressive US educator and commentator Susan Ohanian notes in introducing the California Teachers Association statement on her website: “You asked for it, George. And Nancy. For a long time these corporato politicos have figured we were so fed up with Republicans that we would take anything they dish out. There a lot of teachers willing to show them that they are wrong.”

Whilst we rush to rid ourselves of the Howard mob, we need to prepare ourselves to show Steven Smith and Kevin Rudd that they are also wrong for promising to continue to link Commonwealth funding to A-E grades (currently the subject of legal proceedings and ongoing industrial bans in SA) and for their pledge to tie funding to the publication of schools league tables.

The California Teachers Association (and links) follows:

Don’t Let Congress Punish Our Students, Teachers and Schools - AGAIN
by California Teachers Association

Don’t Let Congress Punish Our Students, Teachers and Schools - AGAIN

Vote NO on the Miller/Pelosi NCLB Reauthorization Proposal

California educators have supported the Elementary and Secondary Act since its inception in 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it as part of the War on Poverty. CTA supports improving student achievement, closing achievement gaps and accountability, but when the law was reauthorized in 2002 and was named the No Child Left Behind Act by President Bush, it became a system of sanctions rather than assistance to public schools, students and teachers.

NCLB is again now up for reauthorization. And the proposal by California Congressman George Miller and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi does nothing to improve the law. California teachers are calling on Congress to vote NO on the Miller/Pelosi NCLB reauthorization plan.

The No Child Left Behind Act is Not Working. It is Hurting our Students, Teachers and Schools -- read more.

The NCLB reauthorization proposal by Representative George Miller and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi does nothing to improve the current law and actually makes it worse -- read more.

The Miller/Pelosi NCLB reauthorization bill will make it harder to attract and retain quality teachers in California classrooms -- read more.

The Miller/Pelosi NCLB reauthorization bill imposes new federal mandates that undermine local control and employee rights -- read more.

Rather than punishing students and teachers, NCLB should provide proven reforms that improve student learning -- read more.

We can’t let the past repeat itself. This law is too important for the future of our public schools.

Take Action NOW!
Tell Your Member of Congress to VOTE NO on Miller/Pelosi NCLB Proposal

California Teachers Association

(Public) Education Works Phase 2 - be warned.

Phase One – the amalgamation of 16 education sites to create 6 new ‘superschools’* is a clear investment in public education – real money - $134m was contained in the 2006/07 budget.

Phase two is a different matter. Many sites are considering amalgamations or closures under the umbrella of (Public) Education works.

A nominal $82m has been identified in the same state budget, but this money would be generated by sale of school/preschool assets and land. That is, there is absolutely no certainty that schools going down this path will be able to access the quantity of funding required to realise the dreams of the amalgamating school community.

Same old advice applies – proceed cautiously and get your commitments from DECS in writing before proceeding.

Every amalgamation ultimately means loss of leadership and administrative time. Autonomy of leadership in curriculum for specific age cohorts is threatened too.

The experiences of staff in some schools are that consultation is inadequate at worst and at best rushed. Get agreement about your consultation process.

* There has to be an alternative name.

Rumours

The Minister has received a bit of caning from cabinet over the state budget.

The Minister is furious to have been compromised by DECS inept advice….again.

Government is said to be reconsidering its approach to education issues following the union community campaign.

DECS leadership is concerned about anti union practices including lack of consultation with the union over key matters. Word around the traps is that DECS policy makers should be working more with the union because of the lack of talent and understanding within DECS to get it right.
Principal Associations struggling to find representatives for all the DECS working parties they are called to be part of.

National Testing for Years 3,5,7 and 9

State and territory ministers have agreed to implement the national testing regime called for by the federal Government.

The battle lines are drawn however because SA Minister Lomax Smith is on the record stating that the state government will not support the creation of league tables. Someone should tell Stephen Smith (and Julie Bishop) this. Labor federally seems more than willing to go down this path.

Stay tuned.