Summary
The article, “Have Federal Funds been Left Behind” explores the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the inherent limitations and the resulting problems brought about by federal funding issues.
Basically, Dubcombe, Lukemeyer and Yinger (2008) presents the notion that states within the U.S. educational system actually have an incentive to keep their educational standards low in order to avoid severe penalties under the NCLB.
Not only that, they also present the notion that while current methods of federal funding are “sufficient” for an “average” level of educational performance, they are no where near the levels needed in order to develop the same performance capacities seen in students from private educational institutions.
Critique
When exploring the article I cannot help but agree with Dubcombe, Lukemeyer and Yinger (2008) regarding the current state of the American educational system.
Through its presentation of the concept of educational accountability and how state budgets are oriented regarding their systems of education it becomes clear that the concern of individual states is not the type of education that is being provided but rather whether it is provided or not.
This would of course result in drastic reductions in overall quality as presented by the article.
One of the weaknesses of the article though was that it lacked sufficient long term evaluations of the possible impact such a method of education will have on the cognitive and intellectual capacties of children that graduate from such a system.
Personal Reaction
Overall, I have to say that the account of Dubcombe, Lukemeyer and Yinger (2008) is an insightful look a the current failings within the U.S. system of education. It becomes immediately apparent that the system seems more like a factory line churning out students for the sake of money rather than creating individuals who can truly make a difference in the world.
It is based on this that I believe that there should be serious reforms in the current allocation of budgetary allotments for education resulting in a system that encourages the development of quality educational systems rather than the current factory assembly line that is is resembling at the present.
Application
When examining the article I can say with certainty that I would attempt to avoid to have anything to do with the public system of education until such a time that is has been revamped based on the recommendations I made in my personal reaction.
Linking standardized tests, school funding makes sense
Summary
In the article “Linking standardized tests, school funding makes sense”, by Hewitt (2003) readers are presented with two arguments.
The first is that the funds disbursed to schools should be based on the results gained from standardized testing procedures while the second view is that communities rather than the schools themselves should be held accountable.
Critique
When examining the article I have to say that Hewitt (2003) neglected to take into consideration the potential impact that funding based on test scores could have on the quality of education received by students.
The arguments themselves were weak in that they seemingly stemmed from a perspective of an individual that lacked the ability to truly discern how educational systems work and how making performance based initiatives could potentially result in practices that are far from what one can consider “quality education”.
Personal Reaction
There have been a variety of online articles which have shown that the “militaristic” system of education implemented in a variety of school systems wherein facts are given without truly delving into the history and intricacies of the lessons learned has resulted in a system of education wherein students know the facts but don’t know how to properly apply them. This is the one result that Hewitt (2003) neglected to take into consideration and it shows his ineptitude regarding education.
Application
Based on what I have learned in this article I can say that I will endeavor to bring to light the problems in the current system of education in order to save it from itself.
Reference List
Duncombe, W., Lukemeyer, A., & Yinger, J. (2008). The no child left behind act have federal funds been left behind? Public Finance Review. 36(4). 381-407.
Hewitt, H. (2003, Jul 28). Linking standardized tests, school funding makes sense. Lincoln Journal Star, pp. 04-04.