U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. is confident that the new federal education law would restore multifaceted learning in American schools. He believes the updated curriculum would greatly expose students to other essential subjects such as social studies, world languages, science and the arts.
Previous Law Promoted Over-Testing, Not Learning
During a recent appearance at the Las Vegas Academy for the Arts in Nevada, King said teachers and parents have often approached him to lament the current state of US education. Due in large part to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, schools have veered away from well-rounded education to put more emphasis on reading and math.
"The politics have focused very intensely on the role of English and math tests, but the department has always had a broader view that teacher evaluations need to be more holistic," King told US News. "I've been clear, as have the president and my predecessor Arne Duncan, that in many places in this country, testing became excessive, redundant and overemphasized."
King added that it was his involvement in plays like "Alice in Wonderland" and "Midsummer Night's Dream" which stirred his lifelong passion for learning. He stressed that students should be exposed to a wide range of subjects so that they may experience the same transformational effect.
"There is a lot of reason to believe that students are not getting the instruction in science, social studies, the arts, and world languages that they need," said the education czar. "I count myself among those who worry that the balance has shifted too much away from subjects outside of math and English that can be the spark to a child's interest and excitement."
Less Standardized Tests, More Time On Holistic Lectures
According to NBC News, the Every Student Succeeds Act substantially improves upon the preexisting education model. Under the new law, student performance will mostly be based on teacher evaluations rather than statewide reading and math exams.
School administrators previously complaint that the standardized tests created a culture of pressurized over-testing. To address the problem, the new law reduces the stringent nature of the exams by allowing states to develop its own accountability system.
The law also provides incentives to states and districts who evaluate the quality and efficiency of the tests they administer. This means the number of statewide exams would be lessened, giving schools more time to focus on other essential subjects besides reading and math.
