No Child Left Behind and the Impact of Kurt Heller’s Work

Abstract

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was signed into law on January 8 in the year 2002. This law had a significant influence on all aspects of American education from pre-kindergarten up to grade 12. The basic intention of the law was: all children should have to meet quality standards that are assessed each year. The consequence was that teachers concentrated their attention especially to the slow and difficult learners. Consequently the fast and talented learners were neglected and school became for them increasingly a place of boredom. Boredom can produce a negative school motivation, or even worse it can kill motivation. Heller, on the other side, contributed as teacher and scientist in a substantial way for more than 4 decades to the well-being of all children, especially the talented and gifted learners. Some of his prominent achievements are highlighted in this article.