Mon Sep 09 15:36:03 UTC 2024: ## Eduwonk Critiques DeBoer’s Take on NCLB and Intelligence
**Washington, D.C.** – Andrew Rotherham, author of the popular education blog Eduwonk, has sparked a debate on the role of genetics and intelligence in education by taking issue with a recent post by Freddie deBoer, a prominent education critic. DeBoer’s Substack post argued that the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was a “destructive piece of educational policy” based on the “blank slate” theory that all children have equal potential.
Rotherham disagrees, stating that NCLB’s aim was not to achieve equal outcomes for all students, but rather to ensure a minimum level of proficiency for all, with individual state standards and definitions of proficiency. He points out that many states have set low proficiency thresholds, leading to an “honesty gap” between what states report and actual student performance on national assessments.
Rotherham also argues that deBoer’s characterization of NCLB as solely based on “blank slate” thinking is a misrepresentation of the law. He highlights that NCLB allowed states to set their own tests and proficiency levels, acknowledging that students have varying abilities.
“There are plenty of reasons to be critical of NCLB,” Rotherham concedes, “but we should be on point in our critiques.”
The debate on NCLB and its impact on education, particularly in light of deBoer’s focus on genetics and intelligence, highlights the complexity of education policy and the need for nuanced discussions.
Rotherham’s blog post, which can be found at Eduwonk.com, encourages readers to engage with deBoer’s work and form their own opinions on the complex issues surrounding education, genetics, and social mobility.
First Piper 