Nation at Risk

The first time I read over the Nation at Risk peace I found it unnecessarily hostile. I was considerably relieved when after I read the follow-up that reaffirmed my feelings. The indicators for risk to me, represented several risks themselves. From the start of this section success in school was immediately equated to an outdated one size fits all standard for achievement. Several of the bulleted points cited sinking standardized test scores as an impetus for the report’s ostensible crusade against educators.

The entirety of the report’s vitriol was pointedly directed at teachers. Nowhere are funds, budget cuts, parental involvement, anything resembling the subjective included. The Report even cites the post Sputnik educational climate as standardized testing ideal, but does not recognize the staggering amount of dollars redirected to public education as a result. Now that those dollars have trickled away suddenly the educators are to blame.

The follow up report practically dismisses the earlier report for being too pointed and hostile, and jaded by a Cold War perspective, claiming that the law every educator loves to hate, No Child Left Behind was the ultimate result. Likely the only good that came from the report was that it put a stop to talks about privatizing schools in America, the only foreseeable outcome of that of course being even greater emphasis placed on high-stakes standardized testing.