Topic: No Child Left Behind

The discussion shifts to the potential for a carbon tax and the elimination of the filibuster. The hosts argue that President Obama is acting like a dictator by using executive orders to bypass Congress on issues like No Child Left Behind waivers and student loan bailouts.

President Obama is increasingly using executive orders to bypass Congressional gridlock, recently issuing waivers for "No Child Left Behind" and altering student loan repayment terms. Critics characterize this as legislating from the Oval Office and moving toward a "dictatorship" model. The history of executive orders is traced back to George Washington, though the frequency and scope of their use have expanded significantly in the modern era.

As of January 1, 2011, 10,000 baby boomers per day will begin entering the Social Security system. A discussion on the failure of the "No Child Left Behind" legislation is interrupted by a major technical glitch that causes audio clips to play uncontrollably.

A clip from MSNBC features a debate over the reauthorization of "No Child Left Behind," with one guest criticizing the law for focusing solely on testing. The host is mocked for a "dickish" move in jumping on a guest who accidentally called John Boehner "John Baker."

Diane Ravitch discusses the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called the "nation's report card," and its role in revealing the failures of the No Child Left Behind Act. The emphasis on high-stakes testing is blamed for "teaching to the test" and a decline in general knowledge among American students.