'It was a lie'

"No Child Left Behind" modeled after a fraud

Opinion By Raymond F. Ensher
Fresno Bee
(Published Monday, October 13, 2003, 5:22 AM)

How ironic that "No Child Left Behind" is patterned after the "education miracle" in the Houston public schools: test, test, test.

Please read every word of the New York Times story Aug. 25 about the state audit that has revealed the miracle was a fraud, involving cooked books, law violations and endless lying.

When President Bush tapped Houston superintendent Rod Paige to be U.S. Secretary of Education, he cited the miracle -- almost zero dropouts, high standards and phenomenal test scores.

The media went wild. The Wall Street Journal insisted that Houston be the national model. Liberals such as Sen. Ted Kennedy and Rep. George Miller fell in line, helping push that monstrosity through Congress -- 79 votes for it in the 100-member Senate.

And it was all a lie. Not a misunderstanding. Not a misperception. A flat-out lie. Houston is and has been a fraud. All 16 schools were ranked "best" under "No Child Left Behind."

After the fraud was revealed in the audit, 14 of the 16 have been reclassified as failed schools.

Administrators knew it was a lie. Teachers knew it was a lie. But more importantly, Rod Paige was hip-deep in the scandal and now has no comment.

Fire Secretary Paige, repeal the voucher-driven No Child Left Behind Act and by all means get President Bush out of the White House before he destroys all this country holds dear.