No Child Left Behind... really????
Where Icarus Flies Episode 7 is full of hope and optimism for the new year ahead!
WhereIF Episode 7 Contents
It has been a month since my last podcast. I can't believe how quickly time flies! You have also noticed that I have neglected both updating the blog with articles or posting on Twitter. What can I say, I was overwhelmed by the end of 2009 and the first days of 2010! I haven't even listened to any other podcasts since the beginning of December! I normally listen to the That's What She Said Podcast with Kevin and Matt, but I haven't even had time to do that! Excuses, excuses, I know! Anyway, let's get to what you have in store this week...
Holiday Season Recap
It was craziness at the WhereIF compound this holiday season! I tell you a bit about the close of the year, some of the great Christmas gifts 0f 2009 and what I hope to accomplish in 2010.
Apple TV
Yep, I got an Apple TV! I have been using it for about a month. I give you my review, it's pros and cons and my impressions of using a 3rd party product called ATV Flash to take Apple TV to the next level!
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
The main topic this week is the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This attempt at education reform is pure garbage! A friend of mine said it best the other day, "NCLB creates nothing more than mediocrity. The high students are not challenged, the low students are not helped and the middle students stay in the middle." Don't be fooled by the bogus stats that supporters of this ill conceived legislation throw at you. They have done nothing but manipulate the data. NCLB went into effect in 2003 (although the law was signed by President Bush in January of 2002). There was a larger jump in Math and Reading scores from 2000 to 2003 than from 2003 to 2007 (when NCLB was in effect). You can check out the U.S. Department of Education if you want to verify for yourself.
NCLB just does not work! Education reform cannot be legislated through unrealistic goals and punishment. Teachers are saddled with unrealistic expectations and given no time to get through all of the curriculum let alone be able to stop and help the low students! NCLB punishes teachers and schools who do not meet unrealistic test score results, but does nothing to actually help the students that are not at grade level. Those students are still pushed through the system! Listen in as I give you my thoughts on this debacle.
The Hoover Report
Joey is back from the hiatus revved up and ready to go! This week he gives you his unique insight on Demi Moore, Mariah Carey, Sour Patch kids and more!
Podcast File Info - Episode 7
I have gone back to making the enhanced version of the podcast (.m4a) the default version in my RSS Feed and on iTunes. If you have any problems with it, let me know (although if you use iTunes, .m4a is not a problem). I have received feedback that some mobile devices have trouble with the enhanced version (yes, that is you Blackberry). You can still get the .mp3 version from the website.
Running time: 56 minutes
MP3 file size: 52MB
M4A file size: 50MB
All show ideas, comments and questions can be sent to feedback@whereicarusflies.com
Bill