University of Missouri - Saint Louis

The Graduate School

Announcement

An oral examination in defense of the dissertation for the degree

Doctor of Education

Bambi Bethel
B.S. Special Education, 1985, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.
M.Ed. Education Administration, 1989, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.

The 2002 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), The Amended 2004 Individuals With Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA)
and Promoting The American Democratic Ideals of Equity and Access
A Critical Enquiry Based on the Work of Michael Foucault and Jean-François Lyotard

Abstract

There is a long history relative to the purpose of American public education. Since at least the Founders, in particular Thomas Jefferson, the purpose of public education has been to prepare children to assume the primary political office, that of citizen. The reasoning was that for a democracy to endure citizens would have to make political judgments relative to both preserving the democracy and furthering democratic ideals including equity and access to the “good life.” This educational philosophy took root more firmly during the 19th century with the advancement of the Common School. The twentieth century saw the dramatic expansion of American public education r to include women during the first half and minorities, especially African American children, during the later half. By the third quarter of the 20th century attention was given to the education of mentally and physically handicapped children. This study is a Critical Enquiry to determine if the technologies (methods) of implementation and assessment of the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) relative to the amended 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA) are consistent with promoting the American democratic ideals of equity and access.

Defense of Dissertation Committee