‘We All Become Texas’

“The single worst piece of federal legislation” he’s seen in his adult life. That’s how former Republican Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives David Jennings characterizes NCLB on Daily Kos (via Minnesota 20:20).

Jennings, now a MN school superintendent, warns that his high-standards state will be forced to regress to meet 100% proficiency.

He pulls no punches in pointing out the law’s flaws:

One can only speculate about the motives of the people who brought us this calamity, but this much I know. If the federal government persists in pursuing this course of action, and if the states fail to call their bluff, there are two possible outcomes, and only two. The first is all schools are eventually deemed “failing schools” and public education as we know it is ended. The second is lower standards nationwide, lowered deliberately to a common denominator all schools can actually attain, a standard like say maybe that of Texas. So in option two, educationally speaking, we all become Texas.

Those are the choices. Anyone who tells you there is a third choice under the current law is not telling you the truth.

Jennings’ conclusion: Maybe the North Star state should chart its own course, without those federal dollars.

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