by Joe Kirkpatrick

The latest on-going brain child of President Bush is a ridiculous program called "No Child Left Behind."  Most of us have heard about it, but have you really thought what leaving no child behind will mean?  Evidently, President Bush hasn't thought that one through either. 

Let's say the presidents program is an overwhelming success - here's a scenario the president may face: President Bush is coming to visit Nashville, and going to stay overnight.  His entourage arrives at the Hilton, and the Secret Service agents get the room key and usher the president to the elevator.  They arrive at the penthouse (the president never would stay in a regular room), and as customary, the agents go in first to make a "sweep" of the room.  One of the agents quickly comes back out, red faced, and says, " I'm sorry Mr. President - evidently there has been a mix-up - this suite is dirty - the beds aren't made, towels laying around on the floor, let's go back down."  On the way down, President Bush says, "boys, let me handle this."  Upon arriving on the ground floor, he walks swiftly over to the desk clerk, who is obviously awed by the President standing before her.  "Young lady, I think there has been a mistake - the suite you sent me up to is dirty - evidently, the maid hasn't cleaned it."  The young lady, looking quite embarrassed, replies, "sir,I'm afraid you will have to clean it yourself."  Beginning to get agitated, the President says, "I am the president of the United States of America - do you think I am going to be my own maid?"  The young lady, looking very upset says, "I'm sorry sir, but do you remember your "No Child Left Behind" program several years ago?  It was so successful, every child got an education, and now there are no uneducated people that we can hire as maids!"

In reality, we know this will not happen.  In fact, the "No Child Left Behind" program was based on the success of a similar program used in the Houston, Texas school system with reportedly great success the past few years.  However, just a few weeks ago, massive fraud has been uncovered in the record keeping of the Houston school system, and evidently the program has not been nearly as successful as it appeared.  The Houston system had gloated about their low dropout rate, which also was a sham.  Many times when a student dropped out, their records said "moved out of state." A full investigation is now underway in that system.

The bottom line is, no matter what program you do, it cannot be successful without active parent backing, which in today's society in this country, just is not there.  What the administrators have lost sight of is what motivates a child?  It's not innovative programs.  We've all heard stories about in the "olden days" our grandparents had to get up at 5 in the morning and feed the pigs, then walk 4 miles through ice and snow to a one room school house with a pot bellied stove.  When they came home, "home" was a two room shack with an outhouse.  What is my point? An environment like that gives children a goal - a goal to "get the heck out of there!"  What goal stimulates a child today to achieve?  Two dead beat parents who don't work, draw a check, get free school lunch, free cheese, free healthcare, but have a cell phone, a nice car, and 77 channels of TV in their air conditioned housing project apartment?  I don't think so.  A teacher at a local elementary school asked her first graders what they wanted to do when they grew up.  One little girl said she wanted to draw.  The teacher asked, "Oh, you want to be an artist?"  The little girl replied, "NO - I want to draw a check like my daddy does."

On the other extreme, take the child of middle class or above parents who cater to their child's every whim, and go confront their child's teacher anytime they are disciplined - why do they need to have a goal?  They already get everything they want. 

Bottom line is, quit wasting money and time on expensive, innovative programs that don't work.  Give teachers good basic curriculum, let them teach to the best of their abilities, and let the pieces fall where they may.