There has been some criticism of Obama for putting Arne Duncan in charge of the education department. Hopefully Duncan hasn't bought the NCLB Act as is and they realize it has some flaws detrimental to our public schools. It is up to parents and teachers to let it be known that excessive testing under that law needs modification. Public schools need support and not massive condemnation based on goals that are unrealistic. Write Arne Duncan and share your views. Don't wait!

The Texas accountability school system is the model for the No Child Left Behind Act. According to a recent study by Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin it is the graduation rates that are influencing the results in public schools, not student achievement
Here is how that works. Every year at least 135,000 high school young people drop out of school. Low achieving students leave, and the schools ratings go up. Who cares about those kids? Public education is to educate all our students. They should not be dropping out.

Most children's books are colorful and full of humor. I love those. I just don't know why I didn't write one of those. My book is a bit serious, and it's for kids who are not doing so well in school. I just wanted them to have something to read that would help them get good feelings about who they are, when everything around them seems to be telling them they aren't okay. Schools are doing that now, more than ever.

The No Child Left Behind Act had good intent, however it has created nothing but havoc in classrooms across this nation. All public schools are on a tract to self-destruct by 2014 unless all students are at 100% proficiency in math and reading. That sounds fine, but it is not possible. All students will never achieve that in any school, thus the school will be at risk.

This is no time to be silent! If your child is having trouble with testing, get involved at your school. The extreme pressure for teachers and students to achieve high test scores to comply with the NCLB Act is so great that everyone involved with children must step up to the plate and insist that change be made to this law.

Write your Congressmen! Let them know that pressuring children is not education.

Nobody Left Behind

The fictional tale Nobody Left Behind: One Child’s Story about Testing chronicles nine-year-old Jeffery Taylor’s struggle with the all-too-common problem of test anxiety.

“There is a great need for this book!”—Mary Allan, 2004 California Teacher of the Year

Sometimes tests prove very little and somebody gets left behind even when they’re thinking. Since standardized testing became a priority for schools, nine-year-old Jeffery Taylor’s academic life has become pure torture. He suffers from a condition called test anxiety: when he takes a test, his stomach aches, his eyes hurt, he feels like his head is going to blow up, and, at times, he visibly trembles.

Jeff’s active imagination hasn’t helped his success at school either—especially if he’s drawing when he’s supposed to be working on other subjects. But schoolwork is not his only problem. His classmate, Matt Huggins, is a real pest, and Jeff and his best friend, Terry, are growing apart. But Jeff is delighted when he meets a new friend who helps him to face his academic challenges. Testing is a tremendous issue in schools today. It can have a lasting effect on funding as schools balance the need to meet accountability standards with the desire to provide learning to students. But most importantly, it can result in test anxiety which has a lasting effect on children.

In Nobody Left Behind, author Deanna Enos uses storytelling as an example of how to begin a dialogue between children, teachers, and parents concerning this important subject.

• Discussion Questions
• Activities for Art and Writing
• Test Taker Tips

To order a single copy of Nobody Left Behind click here. To order mutliple copies for your school or organization click here.

I thoroughly enjoyed your very poignant story about Jeffs experience with testing.

Students, parents, teachers and administrators will see themselves within the context of the story, and it is a catalyst for a lot of reflection on the part of the reader. The child's VOICE is loud and clear!!

I see the book used in some ofthe following ways:

-parent support groups reading and reflecting on their experience of the story

-teachers using it as a read-aloud in the classroom and including a lot of
discussion, as well as your suggested activities

-faculty groups using it as a professional "book read" and discussing/writing personal reflections looking at "the possibilities" for change in test prep/giving

-district personnel reading it with their principals and having similar discussions, reflecting on their own M.O. 're testing

-constituents giving it to the politicians to read

-I liked your use of imagery throughout.

- You beautifully captured Jeff's sense of curiosity, vivid imagination, and "other intelligences."

-Including questions Jeff had as he was thinking, helped me "really get" that he was doing some actual thinking.

-Parents and teachers will resonate with you writing what "he heard" when interacting with his mom and Ms. Radner ~ it's done in a way to create understanding.

-It felt very REAL.

Mary Allan, 2004 - Calfornia Teacher of the Year