Resolved: That NCLB is a negative policy and should be terminated.

But, lets move on to what we are discussing here today. That NCLB is a negative policy and should be terminated. I stand in firm negation of this resolution. So, let me begin unraveling my case to you all. I concede to the fact that graduation rates are not perfect. But what I have been trying to point out, and still will show is that in many places, graduation rates are actually increasing. I will refer to this article from the Reuters published in April 22, 2009. "The 10-year graduation rates show that progress is being made in some of America's largest cities. .. " says Alma Powell, chair of America's Promise Alliance. . http://www.reuters.com... Now, to finish off my point, I will show you numbers that are similar to the graduation rates that my opponent points out. I'm not trying to do anything but prove once and for all that since NCLB, graduation rates have increased. The Milwaukee Public School district has been kind enough to keep track of graduation rates, and shows a graph of the rates increasing, since NCLB. And since there are an increase in graduation rates, it counters his arguments of NCLB's strict rules. Therefore, although graduations aren't perfect, NCLB has raised them since it was enacted. . http://www.jsonline.com... Now, moving onto the deficit. The deficit has hurt not only schools as my opponent has mentioned, but it has mainly hurt the image of NCLB. That is the reason that it is commonly brought up as to why NCLB is bad. But the problem is not coming from NCLB, but it is coming from the lack of foresight its creators had. The funding policies can be changed, and would not, do not, require the termination of the policy. His attack on my 4th argument still remains incorrect. There are more teachers nowadays, and there are also more students as I have proven before. Now moving on. My opponent states that he believes that he is wasting time since he needs credits from social sciences, and he won't need them in college. Although he may not want to study social sciences for the rest of his life, I am willing to bet that he will definitely use some of the knowledge he gained from those classes eventually in life. That is why core classes are mandated. Because although we think we will never use it, chances are we will. To impress a friend or if you decide to switch majors. Many college students will switch majors about 3 times in 5 years. Now finally, his argument that states the problems with reauthorizing NCLB. I will just run quickly over them. 1. Obama would like to increase funding to fix this problem. 2. There are still a multitude of electives for students to take, and this can be fixed. 3. These standards are the basics of what kids should/need to be learning. And as far as I'm aware, learning is still happening at my school, and all the others I have been to. 4. This is untrue, and most students who take the test are not simple bubbling in random bubbles. 5. Also untrue, and refer to my recent article about major city schools now improving. . http://www.reuters.com... 6. It is true that there are now more teachers, but refer to my original case. Students are no longer subject to a "revolving door of inexperienced, unqualified teachers. " A direct contradiction of what my opponent wants you to believe. All in all, NCLB is far from perfect, but it is farther from being so harmful that it should be terminated. NCLB has done what it was meant to do, and that is raise test scores, as I pointed out in my original case. It has increased the graduation rate, which was in a crisis before it, and is healing itself now, and it has taught the basics that every student should be equipped with when they graduate high school and prepare for the real world. It has done much of what it was made for, and if funding is increased as President Obama wants, the gains in achievement, graduation rates, and teacher quality would only shoot through the roof. NCLB is not a negative policy and therefore should not be terminated. Please vote NEG.