My husband is a teacher.  I appreciate that, because it gives me a window into the world of public education.  Recently, Dear Husband was looking for information on <a href="http://www.dianeravitch.com/">Diane Ravitch</a>.  He came across an excellent <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZUDmBZ6Y4s">speech</a> she gave at Stanford University in August of 2010.  Our favorite moment is when she suggests that No Child Left Behind is a foolish endeavor.  She likens it to the federal government demanding that the police reduce crime to zero percent within 10 to 15 years.  If they are unsuccessful, police officers will be fired and police departments will be closed.

Dear Husband found this entertaining enough to start a thread on his Facebook page.  He suggested that perhaps the same principle could be applied to all sorts of professions.  Others have suggested this as well; some examples can be found for <a href="http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/no-dentist.html">No Dentist Left Behind</a>; <a href="http://www.hollandsentinel.com/opinions/x227108199/COLUMN-Teaching-in-America-No-Child-Left-Behind">No Patient Left Behind</a>; <a href="http://www.janebluestein.com/articles/football.html">NCLB: Football</a>; and even <a href="http://libraryhopper.blogspot.com/2006/09/parody-for-you.html">No Cow Left Behind</a>.  There's even a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dAujuqCo7s">song</a>, the very funny (and piquant) "Not on the Test" by Tom Chapin.

So far, there is no end in sight to this educational train wreck.  One of the problems is that it's a goal it's hard to argue with.  When teachers have questioned it, the answer is, "Well, why <em>wouldn't</em> you want your students to succeed?"  There is no response to that.  Of <em>course</em> teachers want their students to be successful, otherwise they'd have gone into some other profession.  But at what price?

The problem with the demand for all students to pass grade level standards is that there isn't a level playing field.  Far too many factors prevent children from reaching their potential.  Several years ago, I had a fascinating conversation with my late brother-in-law's girlfriend.  She was working for the state in which she lived, and her committee was discussing the low rates of female college enrollment.  This young woman told me that her colleagues had failed to see the obvious:  If you live someplace where your roads are lousy and your water quality is poor, you probably aren't worried about how many women go to college.

The same principle applies to NCLB.  The one factor that has been conclusively demonstrated to be important in educational improvement has been parental involvement.  We won't see all students succeed until all parents are actively taking part in their children's learning.  We won't see parent participation until we resolve larger problems related to poverty and family stress.

In the meantime, the rest of us may be able to lend a hand.  I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer in my son's classroom recently, something I will be doing bi-weekly throughout the year.  His teacher assigned me to reading conferences.  The kids read a page or two of their books, then discuss it.  At first, I wasn't sure whether the kids would warm to having me sit with them and listen to them reading.  I needn't have worried.  These kids are so eager to share, so full of joy at having a special grown-up pay attention to them and care about what they like.  I had a list of discussion prompts; I didn't need them.

If kids' parents won't, or can't, be there for them, then <em>we</em> can.  Those of us who are able, who have time or can make time, have the chance to touch these kids' lives.  We <em>can</em> make a difference.  Let's support our kids, our schools, and our teachers by reaching out and loving these children towards success.