Book Club #1

In class we met with our book club members to discuss the first 4 chapters of our book The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How testing and choice are undermining education. Although my group was the smallest I felt that we were able to formulate great discussion especially since our discussion leader had some thoughtful questions. One point that we touched upon was the differences between the A Nation at Risk and the No Child Left Behind Act.

During the 1960s and early 1970s the educational system was failing and A Nation at risk was released discussing many of the issues, it believed that there should be standards put in place that challenged all students to do their best academically. This report addressed education as a whole and stated that “ the nation would be harmed economically  and socially unless education was dramatically improved for ALL children” and that is why my group more so agreed with this report vs the No Child Left Behind Act that left school districts plenty of room to lower their academic requirements in or to receive the most funding. This put many students at a disadvantage because they were not reaching their highest potential.

In these chapters the author continues to talk about different strategies that was used during the school reform periods. Education is definitely a tool that will forever be necessary inside and outside the classroom it is for sure important for people to constantly seek out what's working for those learning and ways to improve things that aren't going as planned. Turning a blind eye will for sure harmfully impact the future.

This brings me to another point that Ravitch also brings up, many times parents feel that the school is 100% for their children's future. Yes, your child may spend most of their time in school but I also feel that it is necessary for parents to find the time to teach their children things as well,everyone knows school cannot possible teach your everything there is to know in life. That being said teachers, parents, and school officials have to do more to come together for the best interest of the youth. As they say it takes a village to raise a child.