Not Just Test Scores.

Not Just Test Scores

Bob Paton

Outreach Publications

1219--77th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11228

0975522906 $19.95 www.notjusttestscores.com

One of the political techniques employed by Republican neo-cons these past six years has been to make up positive sounding names for some of their most blatantly special interest serving, insidiously community denigrating, personal freedoms restricting, "bait-and-switch" legislation. A perfect example of this is the so-called 'No Child Left Behind' federal education initiative that was allegedly intended to raise the general level of academic competence of all school children, but has instead wrecked havoc on public America's school systems--most especially, the funds strapped inner city schools and rural school districts across the country. Bob Paton is an experienced and dedicated teacher who has ripped back the layers of political chicanery to reveal the often tragic consequences that have resulted from the ham-fisted federal policies imposed upon the states, who in turn, impose them on the school districts, who in their turn impose them upon the classroom teachers who, in order to meet scholastic improvement quotas and deadlines, 'teach the test' instead of getting at the root causes of scholastic underachievement. To put it simply, "Not Just Test Scores: Safeguarding Our Children From Failure" should be 'must reading' for every concerned parent, teacher, administrator, and politician in this country. Not just for its accuracy in portraying what's gone wrong with the 'No Child Left Behind' generated policies and practices, but for it's sage advice and recommendations of how to solve the problems plaguing our failed and failing public school systems around the country.