Reply #35: Many states had this type of testing/accountability system in place

[LWolf]

before it went federal with NCLB.

NCLB clones programs begun in CA under Pete Wilson, in Texas under GWB, and in Florida under Jeb, to name a few of the more prominent.

The teachers you hear speak most clearly against NCLB have been dealing with its forerunner at the state level for a decade. That's why we oppose it. The NEA is just now beginning to open it's blind eyes and raise its behemoth head off of the pillow, now that every single state, and every single teacher and kid in the nation are facing it.

Here's a July 14th position on NCLB from the NEA; note the part about testing:

http://www.nea.org/esea/eseaamend.html

DrFunkenstein, Kerry is not the only candidate who voted for this mess or who currently supports it in some form.

As a teacher, I'll forgive the vote for any candidate who will speak out against high-stakes testing. My dream would be to have a candidate propose repealing the whole mess. This is a good point in the campaigns to pin them down about it. I got to do that with the candidate of my choice, DK. He does not support high-stakes testing. I have also heard Braun speak out against it. Edwards supports high-stakes testing, at least from what I've found so far. I'd like to hear from all of the candidates on this issue.