WEST UNION - Area educators heard National Education Association President Reg Weaver advocate that "No Child Left Behind," needs more than a tweak before it can be reauthorized.

"A child is more than a test score," was his message and was similarly illustrated on T-shirts worn by some educators at a gathering of the Northeast Iowa Education unit of the Iowa Education Association Wednesday.

"Pay for performance has nothing to do with student achievement," said Weaver, a middle school science teacher from Harvey, Ill.

"We'll think about pay for performance if the president and Congress are paid for their performance."

Weaver leads the 3.2 million members of the National Education Association and rallied Northeast Iowa educators to be united in their causes.

Our message is, "A great public school for every child."

Weaver described NEA's view on the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind: one size does not fit all.

"We know all children do not learn at the same speed at the same time. If special needs kids could learn at the same speed at the same time, they wouldn't be special needs kids."

The NEA president said NCLB isn't working. "The more people know about it, the less they like it," he said. Educators, administrators and legislators have an obligation to effect change so every child has access to a great public school.

Weaver criticized NCLB because it doesn't address safe and orderly schools, early childhood education and other issues.

"It's an unprecedented attack on labor," in that it undermines the educator's opportunity to participate in the collective bargaining process.

As congressional leaders debate reauthorization of the bill, he said they should include discussions about a school district's economic structure, tax base and adequate and equitable funding. "We will never have success with standards, assessment and accountability if we don't," he said.

Weaver told educators their approach to teaching in 2007, should be different than in 1967.

"We have to teach the way they can learn. Kids have changed. Society has changed. I as the professional had to change.

"Kids don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care," he said

Weaver's appearance was part of the Iowa State Education Association Annual Fall Leadership Training. The main presentation was hosted in North Fayette High School's new fine arts center and was followed by break out sessions in school classrooms.

Contact Janell Bradley at jbradley@alpinecom.net.