To the Editor:
Thomas Toch鈥檚 call in his April 23 Commentary for turning attention back to 鈥淎 Nation At Risk鈥� diagnosis 35 years ago fails to reflect the fact that the data in that report have long since been proved to be wrong (鈥淲hen It Comes to Public Education, the Nation Is Still at Risk鈥�). And, that the approach鈥攎ore requirements and much more testing and sanctions鈥攚as pursued for more than three decades with little success and a great deal of damage, especially to schools serving the students most in need of help.
The bipartisan rejection of No Child Left Behind recognized this failure. We need to support getting and keeping better teachers and reviving civil rights efforts against discrimination, poverty, and the underlying causes of educational inequality.
Gary Orfield
Professor
Graduate School of Education
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Calif.
