Teens are Literature Illiterate

A survey commissioned by political activist group Common Core has found that many teens lack the knowledge to answer basic questions in Literature and History. While the group doesn't state that this is because of No Child Left Behind, they certainly don't cite the 2001 Act as helping stop this ignorance. The article, from the New York Times, states that 63% of school districts have "added an average of three hours of math or reading instruction a week at the expense of time for social studies, art and other subjects" as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act. As a recent high school graduate, I can attest to that study's findings. During my sophomore, junior, and senior years, my high school added a program that required reading "strategies" to be re-taught in every classroom, including Music, History, Science, Business, and Family and Consumer Sciences classes. The so called "reading strategies" were re-packaged third grade reading assignments that had the effect of wasting class time with little results.

I believe No Child Left Behind should be repealed, or massively overhauled. It is ineffective at improving education and it only forces schools to spend time on preparing for tests instead of actually learning the material. I am undecided about who I support for president, but as a future high school teacher, I intend to support someone who will not perpetuate No Child Left Behind without massive improvements.

"Survey Finds Teenagers Ignorant on Basic History and Literature Questions" by Sam Dillon, New York Times, 27 February 2008
(I'm not sure if this date is a misprint, or if this article is supposed to appear in tomorrow's paper. I'll get back to you on that.)