What are the negative affects of no child left behind?

There has been some debate as to the affects this has on all involved. The child is being pushed forward in grade no matter of their understanding of subjects studied in their current grade. Teachers are having to look past giving actual grades or make adjustments (grading on a curve) so that everyone can pass a class or subject. School systems being forced to match or exceed the quota for total number of passing students per year.

None of those things does anything to actually help a student advance socially, mentally or physically. None of those promotes learning.

Rather then pushing a law like "no child left behind" we should be focusing on teaching children. Teachers need to be teaching and reinforcing those lessons. Parents need to support the teacher and the school but even more importantly the child so that they can grow intellectually and become productive adults latter in life.
Source(s):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/09/AR200709090...
http://nochildleft.com/2003/mar03leverage.html
http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/4379.html
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/CTER/v31n3/pdf/fletcher.pdf

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There are several drawbacks:
1) Teaching has become oriented to the teaching for a test, students are taught how to do multiple choice tests, vs. learning skills in creativity and thinking.

2) The "No Child Left Behind Act" has narrowed the curriculum. Because it focuses only on math and reading it has caused the dropping of other subjects that are important in developing a well-rounded education, e.g. science, history and foreign languages.

3) The NCLB is significantly underfunded NCLB at the state level, but states are required to comply with all provisions of the act, or they risk losing federal funds.

4) The NCLB sets very high qualifications for teacher standards. This has caused severe teacher shortages in rural areas and inner cities that need teachers to teach special education, science, math.
Source(s):
http://usliberals.about.com/od/education/i/NCLBProsCons_2.htm

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