Page 4
The Technician April 29, 2014
National Common Core Standards: Are They Necessary?
by Jackson Coloske, Editor in Chief
As many people know, public school systems across the nation have started adopting new “Common Core” standards of teaching. The move has been dominated by the fact that school systems receive their funding based on the number of students attending, and the performance of those students on standardized tests. The Common Core standards are written based on extensive research for promoting student growth and preparation for college, life, and career. As explained in the promotional video, the core standards are equivalent to steps on a staircase, with landings provided to make sure that student development is on pace. The new standards aim to provide a uniform educational experience across the nation, with local and state practices still in effect. So in other words, a fourth-grade student from Idaho and one from Florida are expected to have mastered the same skill sets and basic functions. This is a farfetched expectation, because the two areas have different local culture, family backgrounds, and career prospects. The explanation of the creation of the standards was based on input from teachers, researchers, and independent sources, and is
supposedly similar to international standards, such as France, China, and India. On the myths/ facts page, it lists one myth that “The standards are not internationally benchmarked” with the response, “standards from top-performing countries played a significant role in the development of the math and English language arts/literacy standards”, which clearly states that they are not, in fact, internationally bench-marked. The standards are presented as such:
• Research and evidence-based • Clear, understandable, and consistent • Aligned with college and career expectations • Based on rigorous content and application of knowledge through higher-order thinking skills • Built upon the strengths and lessons of current state standards • Informed by other top performing countries in order to prepare all students for success in our global economy and society With Mathematics and English/Language Arts and literacy (ELA) being the main focus of the revisions, other core subjects are left out. Social and physical sciences are left out of these changes. One concern I have about
these new standards pertains to the adaptation of physical sciences and mathematics. Physics and chemistry are heavily reliant on strong math skills. Now, competent problem solving strategies rely on the ‘base standard’ provided by the changes. These standards are cut and dry. There is no room for individual education plans, 504 Plans, or alternative education. For the general populace, the standards will prove to be beneficial for students, but without providing individualized plans it will bring down the overall ability of the up and coming workforce to take on challenges and personalize their capacity to take charge and solve problems. I believe that the overall outcome of the first generation to see Common Core the entire way through their education is dim. Students will be taught to listen and regurgitate information in a concise and accurate presentation. They will see things as they have been taught, basic arithmetic and comprehension skills will be the the most deteriorated; along with exposure to ideas that may cause a change in ideals or thinking process. The end result will be a manufactured, cookiecutter student that is basically a walking USA campaign poster. Someone who does what is asked, the way it’s asked, and when it’s asked. A drone. The Common Core standards will take away individual thought, and thereby reduce the American educational system to a haphazard pile of documented processes that continually churn out a single product. Source: www.corestandards.org education.vermont.gov
courtesy of: http://education.penelopetrunk.com/2013/07/01/the-common-core-will-be-the-tipping-point-for-homeschoolers/