Two hours?

Madness.
A synonym for public education today.

A group of legislators who have been in school but most of whom haven't taught it are making decisions about how best to teach our children. Without being in the classroom.

A two hour visit doesn't count.
That two hour visit can give a general idea about what a teacher does on a daily basis.

Those same two hours miss a hell of a lot...

The student who breaks down in class, because her dad tried to kill her mother last night. Or last year.
The student who can't pay attention, because she is too busy worrying about how her fellow students view her.
The student who didn't do his homework, because he was busy taking care of his brothers and sisters, because his parents were working second shift.
The student who never learned to read, because his single mother worked two jobs just to feed her family.
The student who can't attend to the lessons, because she didn't get to sleep the night before because of the TV in her bedroom.
The student who didn't do his homework, because his parents told him hockey was more important than school.
The student who won't follow the teacher's rules, because his parents have taught him that teachers are out to get him.
The student who stresses out over getting even one wrong on a test, because she has been taught she needs to be perfect.
The student who struggles to learn, because he just moved here from Liberia and has never been educated.
The student who fights, because she just moved here from Liberia also and doesn't get along with the various tribes now attending our school.
The student whose parents have done everything for him, so he has never learned how to be responsible for himself.
The student who has been told that being beautiful and sexy is more important than being smart and determined.
The student who has been told that he needs to read by the time he is nine or he is stupid.
The student who has failed at reading by age nine and believes he is stupid.


No child left behind?
Excellent idea. In theory.
No child left behind?
Sometimes the schools are not the ones who are leaving them behind.