Coastal Post Online
MARIN COUNTY'S NEWS
MONTHLY - FREE PRESS
(415)868-1600 -
(415)868-0502(fax) - P.O. Box 31, Bolinas, CA, 94924
|
|
Can California Children Get Fair Treatment...
By Jim Scanlon
Margaret Spelling the new federal Secretary of Education promised to work with
state and local officials on the strict requirements of the "No Child Left
Behind" law. She is reported to have made a "complete about
face" in the controversy in North Dakota over approving the qualifications of 4,000 teachers
previously found to be unqualified under the new law.
The dispute was characterized as "a misunderstanding." North Dakota, during its long history has tends
to vote Republican, voting in 33 Republican governors to 6 Democratic since
1861.
Utah is also defying the Federal
Government on the "No Child Left Behind Law" Utah's superintendent of public instruction saying that
"No Child. Left Behind" "...gets in our way," that its
accountability system is "faulty" that its requirement that disabled
children be tested at their grade level is "ludicrous."
Spelling is reportedly eager to visit Utah.
"These are Republicans" she is quoted in the NY Times, "these
are our people".
Utah voted overwhelmingly for George W.
Bush during the last two elections. It seems safe to say that Utah will find the Secretary conciliatory and extremely
helpful and understanding with "her people".
It remains to be seen if California and
the east and west coast states that didn't vote Republican, fall into the
category of "our people."