Why are people so upset about Common Core?

[Anonymous]

Excuse the typos above - and formatting. Sometimes autocorrect sucks. And I hit post too soon.

That's 'bribe states into adopting them'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The answer is complicated.

I actually switched jobs between the two years. So, the year that the old program was implemented, I was the teacher. I then applied for and got the job as curriculum specialist, so I oversaw the analysis and implementation of the changes the following year. Curriculum specialist was a part time role, so I job shared the classroom job the following year, so I got to teach as well as being the curriculum person.

I've long since moved on to other roles, and have gone back in the classroom and left again.

Well, I suspect your new role has something to do with Common Core or the Dept. of Education.

Well, my new role is in a school in a state that implements Common Core Standards and deals with the Department of Education. So, I guess you are correct.

If you're guessing that I work for either of those entities then you are incorrect.

Do you support the arrest of a man who goes over a two-minute time limit? Yes or no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What specific Common Core State Standard do you wish to see changed?

Don't talk about testing, or implementation of curriculum, or crappy workbook pages.

What Standard do you wish to change?

It's not about the standards. It is about the total issue.

The Common Core State Standards are a list of standards, with a few appendices which list things like titles to give a sense of reading levels. That's it. That's all they are. If you object to one or more of the standards, then name the standard you object to. If you object to the idea of children in California learning the same thing as children in DC, then explain why.

Otherwise, if you're objecting to the choices that states or local education authorities have made in how they choose to design their curriculum or assess student progress, then name the states and the choices and say you object to those. But understand that those things aren't Common Core State Standards.

If you object to aspects of NCLB or of RTTT then say that. But understand that neither of those things are Common Core State Standards.

1) What is Achieve Inc?
2) Was special funding for CC included in Obama's nearly 800 billion stimulus plan via the "Race to the Top" program?
3) Was the testing component of CC delayed for several years? Why?
4) Did the federal government also incentivize other parts of common core, besides mere acceptance?
5) Did the Obama administration offer waivers to the No Child Left Behind law if they adopted the new CC standards?
6) Were states asked to sign a letter agreeing to CC before the standards were written? Why?
7) Which two companies are creating the new tests and, more importantly, who chose these companies and who funds them (hint: the feds - and they are also taking an active role in vetting the test questions for 'quality purposes'.


Bill Gates: "Identifying common standards is not enough. We'll know we've succeeded when the curriculum and tests are aligned to those standards".
Former Texas Education

Commissioner Robert Scott testified he was told that a state that adopts CC can only add 15% of their own input into curriculum. He states: "It was then that I realized that this initiative, which had been constantly portrayed as state-led and voluntary, was really about control. Then it got co-opted by the Department of Education later. And it was about control totality from some education reform groups who candidly admit their real goal here is to create a national marketplace for education products and services."

Scott also states that he did not adopt the standards for TX because he was troubled by the lack of transparency, that the standards were written behind closed doors...."We didn't know who the writers were until the project was complete".

You might want to believe the standards only provide teachers with concepts and timelines, and that states and locals will remain in control of curriculum. That is just not true. The test questions will direct what gets taught in public schools. Think of it this way: If the English portion of a CC related test consistently asks one question about Shakespeare, but four questions about an EPA document, it won't take long before schools tailor their curriculum to include the EPA document. Neal McClusky of the Cato Institute states "Year after year, questions become curricula".

In summary: Progressives wrote CC standards, used money from the 2009 stimulus bill to bribe states into adoption them, and are now "vetting" the tests that will eventually shape the curriculum used by school districts all across the US.

Control and conform, baby!

So to be clear: you don't actually oppose what is in the Common Core State Standards, but you oppose the fact that people will be implementing curriculum to meet those standards?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do YOU understand that a standard is nothing without implementation?

I think you should find a synonym for "implementation", because I don't think you understand what it means. Can you ask this question in a different way, so we can understand what you are asking?

Are you saying "A standard is nothing, without a way to teach to it?"

Because they are 2 very very different things.

The standard is the end goal.

The way you teach the kids to get to that end goal, that's the implementation. As a PP noted, there are numerous ways to teach kids to get to that end goal. SOme stink, some are great, some work for some kids, some work for others. Those decisions need to be made by individual teachers, schools and school districts (and even states).

MEETING the standard is the end goal, not the standard itself. Implementation is the way you get from the standard to meeting the standard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Louisiana students reaction to the PARCC (Common Core) field test

http://www.knoe.com/story/25430879/louisiana-students-prefer-taking-parcc-test-on-computer

And so it begins.....

If things are this bad in Louisiana, can you imagine how hard it will be for kids in Massachusetts?

Of those students taking the computer-based test during the first phase, nearly 70 percent said the test was easier or about the same as their current school work. And, when asked if there were questions about things they have not learned this school year nearly 85 percent said there were none or few questions. Students were also asked about the functionality of the computer-based test and how easy or difficult it was to type their answers. Eighty-seven percent said they had no problems entering their answers; nearly the same percentage said they did not have any difficulty moving back and forth between the passages on the test and that information was easily obtained.

Not surprised that it's easier for most students to take a CBT. That says nothing about CC, just about how much easier it is to take a test using a computer, rather than coloring in the bubbles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The answer is complicated.

I actually switched jobs between the two years. So, the year that the old program was implemented, I was the teacher. I then applied for and got the job as curriculum specialist, so I oversaw the analysis and implementation of the changes the following year. Curriculum specialist was a part time role, so I job shared the classroom job the following year, so I got to teach as well as being the curriculum person.

I've long since moved on to other roles, and have gone back in the classroom and left again.

Well, I suspect your new role has something to do with Common Core or the Dept. of Education.

Well, my new role is in a school in a state that implements Common Core Standards and deals with the Department of Education. So, I guess you are correct.

If you're guessing that I work for either of those entities then you are incorrect.

Do you support the arrest of a man who goes over a two-minute time limit? Yes or no.

It depends. Did it happen like this?

And then he went to the meeting, where during the two-minute comment period he attempted to have that much-anticipated discussion, asking board chair Sue Allen for documentation of the error and asking her to read the notice that the school sent Monday, which he considered inadequate because it only referred to “high school relationships, some of them unhealthy.” He then demanded that someone read the passage on page 313 aloud, at which point his two minutes were over.

Another parent, Sara Carrignan, also complained that she was “utterly appalled” by the book and the oversight, and that her son “had this book in his hands for a week.” She also considered the notice “garbage.”

When a third parent was speaking in favor of the book and saying that he didn’t want other parents trying to ban it, Baer interrupted, calling the man’s position “absurd”; Allen asked him to stop talking. He replied, “That’s fine…It’s absurd. Why don’t you have me arrested? Why don’t we do that as a civics lesson, nice First Amendment Lesson.”

We were not aware that the First Amendment guarantees the right to interrupt people during a meeting, as long as you’re really sure you need to, but we learn all sorts of things from the internet.

Allen asked Baer, “Sir, would you please be respectful of the other people?” and he shot back, “Like you’re respectful of my daughter, right? And my children?”
And then the officer came and took him away, trampling freedom forever.

Read more at http://wonkette.com/548478/hero-dad-arrested-for-trying-to-protect-kids-from-filthy-sex-book#ecZRuIRo7y4UzbpX.99

Three strikes you're out! Especially when you taunt the ump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Louisiana students reaction to the PARCC (Common Core) field test

http://www.knoe.com/story/25430879/louisiana-students-prefer-taking-parcc-test-on-computer

And so it begins.....

If things are this bad in Louisiana, can you imagine how hard it will be for kids in Massachusetts?

Of those students taking the computer-based test during the first phase, nearly 70 percent said the test was easier or about the same as their current school work. And, when asked if there were questions about things they have not learned this school year nearly 85 percent said there were none or few questions. Students were also asked about the functionality of the computer-based test and how easy or difficult it was to type their answers. Eighty-seven percent said they had no problems entering their answers; nearly the same percentage said they did not have any difficulty moving back and forth between the passages on the test and that information was easily obtained.

Not surprised that it's easier for most students to take a CBT. That says nothing about CC, just about how much easier it is to take a test using a computer, rather than coloring in the bubbles.

I think you missed this part:

nearly 70 percent said the test was easier or about the same as their current school work. And, when asked if there were questions about things they have not learned this school year nearly 85 percent said there were none or few questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

SO sick and tired of assholes at these meetings thinking what they have to say is so much more important than what everyone else has to say. You don't like the 2 minute rule? Lobby to change it. Don't be an asshole and challenge the School Board to have you arrested for not following the rules of civil society.

How many meetings have you been to like this? I haven't seen many. So, the guy went overtime. He shouldn't have done that. But, Arresting him? Give me a break.

You are seeing the arrogance of educators. This is what happens when they forget who pays them

So here you are at a meeting. Lots and lots and lots of people want to speak, so there's a two-minute time limit so that everybody gets a chance. Some guy gets up and starts talking. He gets his two minutes. The person running the meeting says that the two minutes are up. The guy won't stop talking. The person running the meeting tells him to stop talking. The guy won't stop talking. The person running the meeting tells him he needs to stop talking now. The guy says that he refuses to stop talking, and the only way they can make him stop talking is to arrest him. So they...what? Let him keep talking? Because he pays taxes? So does everybody else in the room who wants to talk, and can't because the guy won't stop talking.

And what this has to do with Common Core standards, I can't fathom.

That's not the only choice. The obvious choice is to escort him out, not to ARREST him. Talking over a time limit is not an offense where someone should be arrested. The fact you can't see that....seriously?

Did you read the passage in the book? The girl is essentially raped, then tells the guy she loves him after he says it first. Is that the message, you, as an administrator, want to send a 9th grader? This, of course, is in addition to the graphic sexual descriptions. This father had every right to be pissed off about that. And all the board cared about was he went over the two minute rule. Perhaps if the school board showed some concern over the matter, there might have been dialog.

[Anonymous]

What I want to know is, how does p. 313 of that Jodi Picoult book compare to The Thorn Birds, Flowers in the Attic, and Forever, all of which I read in junior high?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The answer is complicated.

I actually switched jobs between the two years. So, the year that the old program was implemented, I was the teacher. I then applied for and got the job as curriculum specialist, so I oversaw the analysis and implementation of the changes the following year. Curriculum specialist was a part time role, so I job shared the classroom job the following year, so I got to teach as well as being the curriculum person.

I've long since moved on to other roles, and have gone back in the classroom and left again.

Well, I suspect your new role has something to do with Common Core or the Dept. of Education.

Well, my new role is in a school in a state that implements Common Core Standards and deals with the Department of Education. So, I guess you are correct.

If you're guessing that I work for either of those entities then you are incorrect.

Do you support the arrest of a man who goes over a two-minute time limit? Yes or no.

It depends. Did it happen like this?

And then he went to the meeting, where during the two-minute comment period he attempted to have that much-anticipated discussion, asking board chair Sue Allen for documentation of the error and asking her to read the notice that the school sent Monday, which he considered inadequate because it only referred to “high school relationships, some of them unhealthy.” He then demanded that someone read the passage on page 313 aloud, at which point his two minutes were over.

Another parent, Sara Carrignan, also complained that she was “utterly appalled” by the book and the oversight, and that her son “had this book in his hands for a week.” She also considered the notice “garbage.”

When a third parent was speaking in favor of the book and saying that he didn’t want other parents trying to ban it, Baer interrupted, calling the man’s position “absurd”; Allen asked him to stop talking. He replied, “That’s fine…It’s absurd. Why don’t you have me arrested? Why don’t we do that as a civics lesson, nice First Amendment Lesson.”

We were not aware that the First Amendment guarantees the right to interrupt people during a meeting, as long as you’re really sure you need to, but we learn all sorts of things from the internet.

Allen asked Baer, “Sir, would you please be respectful of the other people?” and he shot back, “Like you’re respectful of my daughter, right? And my children?”
And then the officer came and took him away, trampling freedom forever.

Read more at http://wonkette.com/548478/hero-dad-arrested-for-trying-to-protect-kids-from-filthy-sex-book#ecZRuIRo7y4UzbpX.99

Three strikes you're out! Especially when you taunt the ump.

Out or arrested? Good LORD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

That's not the only choice. The obvious choice is to escort him out, not to ARREST him. Talking over a time limit is not an offense where someone should be arrested. The fact you can't see that....seriously?

Did you read the passage in the book? The girl is essentially raped, then tells the guy she loves him after he says it first. Is that the message, you, as an administrator, want to send a 9th grader? This, of course, is in addition to the graphic sexual descriptions. This father had every right to be pissed off about that. And all the board cared about was he went over the two minute rule. Perhaps if the school board showed some concern over the matter, there might have been dialog.

The acting town police chief made the decision to arrest him. I would never second-guess the actions of local government.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/may/08/father-arrested-protesting-jodi-picoult-high-school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What specific Common Core State Standard do you wish to see changed?

Don't talk about testing, or implementation of curriculum, or crappy workbook pages.

What Standard do you wish to change?

It's not about the standards. It is about the total issue.

The Common Core State Standards are a list of standards, with a few appendices which list things like titles to give a sense of reading levels. That's it. That's all they are. If you object to one or more of the standards, then name the standard you object to. If you object to the idea of children in California learning the same thing as children in DC, then explain why.

Otherwise, if you're objecting to the choices that states or local education authorities have made in how they choose to design their curriculum or assess student progress, then name the states and the choices and say you object to those. But understand that those things aren't Common Core State Standards.

If you object to aspects of NCLB or of RTTT then say that. But understand that neither of those things are Common Core State Standards.

1) What is Achieve Inc?
2) Was special funding for CC included in Obama's nearly 800 billion stimulus plan via the "Race to the Top" program?
3) Was the testing component of CC delayed for several years? Why?
4) Did the federal government also incentivize other parts of common core, besides mere acceptance?
5) Did the Obama administration offer waivers to the No Child Left Behind law if they adopted the new CC standards?
6) Were states asked to sign a letter agreeing to CC before the standards were written? Why?
7) Which two companies are creating the new tests and, more importantly, who chose these companies and who funds them (hint: the feds - and they are also taking an active role in vetting the test questions for 'quality purposes'.


Bill Gates: "Identifying common standards is not enough. We'll know we've succeeded when the curriculum and tests are aligned to those standards".
Former Texas Education

Commissioner Robert Scott testified he was told that a state that adopts CC can only add 15% of their own input into curriculum. He states: "It was then that I realized that this initiative, which had been constantly portrayed as state-led and voluntary, was really about control. Then it got co-opted by the Department of Education later. And it was about control totality from some education reform groups who candidly admit their real goal here is to create a national marketplace for education products and services."

Scott also states that he did not adopt the standards for TX because he was troubled by the lack of transparency, that the standards were written behind closed doors...."We didn't know who the writers were until the project was complete".

You might want to believe the standards only provide teachers with concepts and timelines, and that states and locals will remain in control of curriculum. That is just not true. The test questions will direct what gets taught in public schools. Think of it this way: If the English portion of a CC related test consistently asks one question about Shakespeare, but four questions about an EPA document, it won't take long before schools tailor their curriculum to include the EPA document. Neal McClusky of the Cato Institute states "Year after year, questions become curricula".

In summary: Progressives wrote CC standards, used money from the 2009 stimulus bill to bribe states into adoption them, and are now "vetting" the tests that will eventually shape the curriculum used by school districts all across the US.

Control and conform, baby!

So to be clear: you don't actually oppose what is in the Common Core State Standards, but you oppose the fact that people will be implementing curriculum to meet those standards?

Go look up the answers to the questions I listed above. Look at the quotes. And if you still don't understand, do it again, and again, until you do.

[Anonymous]

There's the whole video of him by the way, starting with how confrontational and aggressive he was for his full 2 minutes, before he started interrupting people.

Kind of puts it in context, don;t you think?

http://wonkette.com/548478/hero-dad-arrested-for-trying-to-protect-kids-from-filthy-sex-book

I respect the school board members for keeping their cool, and dealing with him in a professional way, and am glad that they had the local control to make that kind of decision about how they wanted to run their schol board meeting (as elected representatives of their local community.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Go look up the answers to the questions I listed above. Look at the quotes. And if you still don't understand, do it again, and again, until you do.

No, if you had a problem with a specific standard, you could easily link to it, and explain what you felt was inappropriate about it. Since you don't do that, I understand that there are no problems with specific standards, you just oppose the funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I want to know is, how does p. 313 of that Jodi Picoult book compare to The Thorn Birds, Flowers in the Attic, and Forever, all of which I read in junior high?

My point is made.