As a retired career educator I recognize that the US Government's plan for "No child left behind" sounds good for, after all, we all want every child to learn and excel in their education.  The government "educators' would like to tell the world that this is an easily-achievable task if only we do certain things which they have listed.  The problem is that you're dealing with human beings and not robots.  The old saying, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink" seems to be particularly appropriate to educators who have been charged with doing a seeming impossible task.  The government can't do it, it takes the support of parents, school administrations, and school boards and a majority of their patrons.   The following document says it as well as any teacher could tell it.

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ---The Football Version

 

1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the

championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on

probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held

accountable. If after two years they have not won the championship

their footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the

championship.

 

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at

the same time even if they do not have the same conditions or

opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for

lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or

genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents. ALL

KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!

 

3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without

instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their

instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in

football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like

football.

 

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be

kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th game. 

It will create a New Age of Sports where every school is expected to

have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same

minimum goals. If no child gets ahead, then no child gets left behind.

If parents do not like this new law, they are encouraged to vote

for vouchers and support private schools that can screen out the

non-athletes and prevent their children from having to go to school

with bad football players.

 

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I've just remembered a comment from a fellow educator named Stan with whom I worked and it seems to fit in right here.  Several times I heard Stan say,

"If you want to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, you'd better start with silk sows."   Educators, in particular, will surely understand that statement.

 

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