Sad state of education we're in. "No child left behind" means "No Child Gets Ahead", that you president Bush.
That happened WELL before Bush.
In the 80's, when I was in elementary school, there was special needs (physically/mentally retarded) and gifted/talented (super smart)... Both were considered 'special education'... And needed additional support with their schooling.
Only one problem.....
THEY DID IT IN THE SAME CLASSROOM...
So, you have the super smart kids, lumped in with the mentally and physically challenged.
So while I'm reading Tom Clancy novels in first grade, I'm also having to deal with people that quite honestly had NO business in school.. children confined to wheelchairs with no motor control, no bowel control, etc etc....
So, they give me a section in a booklet to finish.....I finish it.....they tell me to go to the next section.........finish that..........tell me again to go to next section........finish that........then finish the REST of the book because I didn't wanna ask again... I get in trouble for going too far ahead.......
Then they tell me when I finish my assignment, I can read a book.. So for 30 out of the 40 min periods, I'm reading a book...
Then they say that other kids are complaining because I get to read.....and I need to slow down to give the other kids a chance to catch up......and they say I can't read anymore.... They don't let me get harder work, because I'd be too far ahead, and make the other kids feel bad...
So.... I'm 'ordered' to finish menial work, where I'm then 'ordered' to sit still for 30 mins while staring at a wall............
Learn? At school? Never.........