The No Child Left Behind Initiative - a Reason for Teachers to Quit?

I read the most disturbing letter in my city's paper about teachers who were once excited about the education field leaving. The person wrote that teachers are leaving due to the pressure from the Federal " No Child Left Behind" initiative to have all children succeed. When I first heard of the program, I thought it was about time for someone to start caring for all students. The reason for this is the fact that there are teenagers of high school age held back in elementary to junior high school levels. No one thought about how embarrassing it would be to an adolescent who cannot learn very well to sit beside little kids. These children were not always minorities, but lower middle class Anglo Saxon as well as Caucasian. One sixteen year old male in 5th grade told everyone he has a job, and was going to drop out of school. Some girls I knew ended up getting pregnant and leaving school. It is not a very promising life to have your educational years messed up when there are teachers who can help you. Some might think that these kids must have a bad behavior.

This may be true for some, but in many cases the children held back are not trouble makers. In fact, the biggest trouble makers seem to always pass from one grade to the next. The question should focus on the factors in education today that makes a teacher feel like giving up. What is it about the initiative that wears out these teachers? According to the writer, teachers feel prohibited and locked in when it comes to teaching their students. Moreover, it is like their sense of creativity is stifled for the purpose of getting each student up to par in order to make good test scores. This amazes me since most children are able to learn pretty well with A's and B's on their report cards. Obviously, those students with the highest grades cannot be the issue behind the teachers sudden departure. There are problems in public school with unruly students who interrupts the teacher, and disturbs the other students. Students who are problems make it hard for other students and teachers to do their jobs.

However, there are security guards and principles who can remove these students from the classrooms. Student with high IQ's may have questions, but they are not as needy as those who have trouble learning. It could be a matter of dyslexia, stress or fooling around that holds these children back from learning. If it is a matter of students talking too much, a teacher can simply separate the students. Place the talkative students with students they do not, or would not normally associate with. Now that the smart ones are fine, the troublemakers are removed, and the talkative ones separated the problem remains? All that is left are those students who do not understand the subject. A teacher is a leader who is suppose to expect the reiteration of repeating ones self, and speaking in lay terms to students. In many businesses people must speak to consumers in lay terms at times. Perhaps, the reason behind the teachers sudden departure is that the smart students are easier to teach.

Teachers who sign up for the challenge should brave it with courage. Teachers are leaders who never shrink down from a good challenge. Neither do good teachers run away like a pansies from students who need extra help. Teachers who run away from students in need while demanding a raise wants pay for nothing. Meaning, it is the refusal to take responsibility for a child's inability to learn, and leaving them behind as the only option. The students who need extra help learning a subject should be the FIRST priority in teachers plans to give them courage, knowledge, understanding,and kindness. These students should not raise their hand to the point of holding up their arm with their other one just to get the attention of the teacher. No child should feel stupid or like a burden to anyone. A teacher's job is to care for all of the students equally. There can be extra credit, and time after school for a small group of students to get extra help. It can be fun like a secret club learning about the most coolest subject.

The students know when an adult honestly cares, and when the teacher is teaching like a limp handshake. Perhaps, teachers do need a raise that would attract more male teachers to the profession. Men are natural born leaders who would not feel like a man unless he could manage like a true leader. In reality, everyone has difficult moments with their jobs. Some people leave, but most stay there to take on the responsibility in stride. I believe that there are a lot of good teachers out there, and some haven't graduated yet. It is a huge responsibility to teach the leaders of tomorrow, and vital for the right lessons to be taught. Self Esteem is an essential part of every child who will grow up to be an adult, and take on responsibilities without fear.

Fear makes it easier to hold back important information that will help people out of being unsure with themselves. Fear can stop someone from saving a life of anyone including a person close to you. If teaching is your consolation prize to the main career you've wanted it is better to choose something your heart is into. Teaching is not easy with all the new information, but I believe you can do it for every child. Take the challenge America, because the fate of our future is in the hands of these students you are teaching. Therefore, do it well from the bottom of your heart to make sure no child is ever left behind again.