Weapon of Mass Deception: The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

"America’s economic future faces turmoil from a non-prepared workforce, for the challenges of the 21^st century job market."

America was attacked in 1954, and twice in 2001. Two very grievous and cowardly acts; that we as American’s needed and got prompt restoration! A few may agree or disagree with the process; yet, we stood unified as a nation. The nonpareil attack we didn’t ask military action for went under the radar, as compliance under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law to educate our children. We never saw that coming!

A decade later, boom! Millions of lives have been destroyed. Countless others still awaiting the after shock! While America’s economic future faces turmoil, from a non-prepared workforce, for the challenges of the 21^st century job market. Not to cite, the millions of dollars spend locally for all the unfunded federal education mandates required annually to meet NCLB's additional accountability requirements and achievement goals

We were blindly led to belief a one-size fits all educational system would work in the new global knowledge base 21^st century. As the distinguished psychologist and provost of Oklahoma State, Robert J. Sternberg recently wrote about the NCLB law in an open letter to the President of the United States:

“Although the law was well-intentioned, its metrics for progress and implementation were not well-thought through, and have resulted in (a) straitjacketing of public schools in terms of what curriculum they feel they can teach, (b) relegation of important school subjects -- such as history, civics, languages, music and art -- to the back of the back burner, (c) high-stakes tests that were not ready for prime time, (d) gaming the system, with some states actually lowering standards when they discovered that they otherwise could not meet the ever-more-stringent goals the law placed, and (e) demoralization and discouragement among educators regarding the role of the federal government in education.”

He joins an increasing list of educators; ready to speak out about the destruction NCLB has caused. That’s why, New Jersey Minority Educational Development with endorsement from grassroots organizations across the country, has formed the America First or Last Movement.

The movement’s mission is to help restore, reconstruct and improve the United States educational system. 

Starting, with 3 areas to help states better prepare their students for the 21^st century job market. If you compare US students now heading to high school then college with students across the globe; all signs heads to the conclusion our secondary and post secondary students aren't as productive as they can be.

Beginning this fall, the America First or Last Movement will bring on local colleges, businesses, and community family support services to assist school districts to improve proficiency levels in reading, math and science for student’s K thru 12; develop advance technology programs in public education classrooms; and work towards increasing High School and College Graduation Rates.

Through doing work with the communities in setting-up academic goals to address; the areas of “their needs” from early-childhood to post secondary education for low performing schools and students. These offer our communities the most beneficial system for accountability and need accountability for their school districts.

Eleven states already have received waivers from NCLB, and 28 other states, along with Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico having also applied for waivers. These states must take up “college- and career-ready” standards, tie state tests to those standards, propose interventions for the lowest-performing 15 percent of schools, and include student growth in teacher and principal evaluation systems. States receiving NCLB waivers are not being released from accountability. Instead states will be given “more flexibility to meet high standards.

The movement’s organizers state that’s how they fit in, because, they can achieve those goals, working with these states. Now, they need for us to participate in the movement. You can visit their website at www.usent.org and support your school and students, by becoming a local volunteer.

NJ MED’s Executive Director, Albert Mitchell II, said, “We can’t continue to commit our confidence in an unsuccessful system that is decimating our children.  If we do we have no one to fault for this tragedy just ourselves.”