Why are people so upset about Common Core?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is already using CC as a means to control education in the states. It is called "Race to the Top".

How is the federal government controlling education in the states through "Race to the Top"? How much of "Race to the Top" are the Common Core standards?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
http://dianeravitch.net/2014/04/23/who-wrote-the-common-core-standards-here-is-a-list/

Here is a major part of the problem.

Please explain -- starting with what the problem is, specifically

My problem is the same as Ravitch's problem. How many classroom teachers were involved?

No, that's not a problem. That's a question. Is your problem that the standards are bad because classroom teachers were not involved in their development?

Not the PP, but you can go back to my long post and read what the TX Education Commissioner said - they wanted him to sign onto acceptance before the standards were even written. Would you sign a contract without knowing the terms? Now ask yourself why not.

OK, time for a fact check.

I went back to the long post and read what the former Texas Education Commissioner SAID, then checked the document that he was actually asked to SIGN.

Here's what he SAID:

"My experience with the Common Core actually started when I was asked to sign on to them before they were written. … I was told I needed to sign a letter agreeing to the Common Core, and I asked if I might read them first, which is, I think, appropriate. I was told they hadn’t been written, but they still wanted my signature on the letter"

Here's the text from the Memorandum of Agreement he was asked to SIGN:

Purpose. This document commits states to a state-led process that will draw on evidence and lead to development and adoption of a common core of state standards (common core) in English language arts and mathematics for grades K-12. These standards will be aligned with college and work expectations, include rigorous content and skills, and be internationally benchmarked. The intent is that these standards will be aligned to state assessment and classroom practice. The second phase of this initiative will be the development of common assessments aligned to the core standards developed through this process.

(snip)

Develop K-12 Standards in English Language Arts and Math. CCSSO and the NGA Center will convene Achieve, ACT, and the College Board in an open, inclusive, and efficient process to develop K-12 standards that are grounded in empirical research and draw on best practices in standards development. We will ask participating states to provide input into the drafting of the common core and work as partners in the common core standards development process. This work will be completed by December 2009.

(snip)

The goal of this effort is to develop a true common core of state standards that are internationally benchmarked. Each state adopting the common core either directly or by fully aligning its state standards may do so in accordance with current state timelines for standards adoption not to exceed three (3) years.

This effort is voluntary for states, and it is fully intended that states adopting the common core may choose to include additional state standards beyond the common core. States that choose to align their standards to the common core standards agree to ensure that the common core represents at least 85 percent of the state’s standards in English language arts and mathematics.

The Memorandum of Agreement was asking states to commit to a process of developing the standards. They were asking states to sign on to the process, and to help in the drafting of the standards.

Signing this letter in no way obligated Texas or any state to adopt the eventual standards that were designed.

If states did, in the end adopt the standards and become "Common Core" states, the standards (more math and language arts) were meant to be the core of the state's standards -- up to 85% of the standards would be Common Core for math and Language arts. Science and Social studies of course would be up to states to design their own standards.

The purpose of this Memo of Understanding was to get the states interested in designing the Common Core State Standards, to sign up to do so.


So when Scott said "I was told they hadn’t been written, but they still wanted my signature on the letter." -- he completely misinterpreted the point of this Memorandum of Understanding. Completely. Because when people hear what he said, they interpret it this way: "I was told I had to sign off agreeing Texas would adopt all these standards, but they wouldn't let me actually read the standards, in fact they hadn't been written."

That plays into people's fears. That is a complete misrepresentation of the document he was asked to sign -- a document saying that his state was agreeing to develop the standards.

[Anonymous]

link to the MOA

www.edweek.org/media/commonstandardsmoa.doc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Which standards, specifically, don't you like?

And what do you mean by "control education"? How will the federal government use the Common Core standards to control education? And what about the states that did not adopt the Common Core?

I have problems with lots of the math standards. Also, with 60% of the reading be non-fiction. I think that is an arbitrary requirement.

It is arbitrary, but reflects the fact that students should be using their ability to read in Science, History, and Foreign Language classes and even math, as well as in English class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is already using CC as a means to control education in the states. It is called "Race to the Top".

How is the federal government controlling education in the states through "Race to the Top"? How much of "Race to the Top" are the Common Core standards?

OK, you have to be honest, the federal government certainly is trying to influence states and support the development & adoption of Common Standards through grant money. It's been pretty clear about that. Incentives and grants however are different from federal requirements.

[Anonymous]

Sample HW assignment for a typical middle school student:

40 minutes: read 2 chapters in a play (fiction) and fill out worksheet

30 minutes: read Unit 7: Magnetic Forces in science textbook and answer questions at back of book

30 minutes: read magazine article on current situation in the Ukraine for current events assignment; write summary

total: 100 minutes of reading

40% fiction
60% non-fiction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You can find it on p. 152 of Appendix B Text Exemplars and Sample Performance Tasks for the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts & Literacy in History, Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects, here: http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Appendix_B.pdf )

Thanks for posting that. I went through and skimmed some of the selections. Poor kids. All that dull reading ahead of them.

Since you're so fucking brilliant on literature, why don't you name some of the prize-winning literature that you've written? </s>

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
So when Scott said "I was told they hadn’t been written, but they still wanted my signature on the letter." -- he completely misinterpreted the point of this Memorandum of Understanding. Completely. Because when people hear what he said, they interpret it this way: "I was told I had to sign off agreeing Texas would adopt all these standards, but they wouldn't let me actually read the standards, in fact they hadn't been written."

Actually, it's worse than that. He misrepresented what he has been asked to sign.

One wonders why he misrepresented it. Was he ignorant? or deliberately misleading the public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So when Scott said "I was told they hadn’t been written, but they still wanted my signature on the letter." -- he completely misinterpreted the point of this Memorandum of Understanding. Completely. Because when people hear what he said, they interpret it this way: "I was told I had to sign off agreeing Texas would adopt all these standards, but they wouldn't let me actually read the standards, in fact they hadn't been written."


Actually, it's worse than that. He misrepresented what he has been asked to sign.

One wonders why he misrepresented it. Was he ignorant? or deliberately misleading the public?

He was showing common sense. I'm going to sign on in support of the development of something that I may not like? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Which standards, specifically, don't you like?

And what do you mean by "control education"? How will the federal government use the Common Core standards to control education? And what about the states that did not adopt the Common Core?




I have problems with lots of the math standards. Also, with 60% of the reading be non-fiction. I think that is an arbitrary requirement.

It is arbitrary, but reflects the fact that students should be using their ability to read in Science, History, and Foreign Language classes and even math, as well as in English class.

The kids are probably already doing it. Do you really think it needs to be a "standard". Too much detail. Too much regulation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The federal government is already using CC as a means to control education in the states. It is called "Race to the Top".

How is the federal government controlling education in the states through "Race to the Top"? How much of "Race to the Top" are the Common Core standards?

I suggest you go to the DofED website and read Race to the Top. Getting federal money is totally tied to common core. It will only get worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So when Scott said "I was told they hadn’t been written, but they still wanted my signature on the letter." -- he completely misinterpreted the point of this Memorandum of Understanding. Completely. Because when people hear what he said, they interpret it this way: "I was told I had to sign off agreeing Texas would adopt all these standards, but they wouldn't let me actually read the standards, in fact they hadn't been written."


Actually, it's worse than that. He misrepresented what he has been asked to sign.

One wonders why he misrepresented it. Was he ignorant? or deliberately misleading the public?

He was showing common sense. I'm going to sign on in support of the development of something that I may not like? Really?

Fine. If Texas wasn't interested in joining the movement to develop common state standards, that's their prerogative.

Then just say that. "We weren't interested in joining this particular movement."

Don't make it sound like they were interested, but we being forced to agree to the standards before they had been written.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Which standards, specifically, don't you like?

And what do you mean by "control education"? How will the federal government use the Common Core standards to control education? And what about the states that did not adopt the Common Core?




I have problems with lots of the math standards. Also, with 60% of the reading be non-fiction. I think that is an arbitrary requirement.

It is arbitrary, but reflects the fact that students should be using their ability to read in Science, History, and Foreign Language classes and even math, as well as in English class.

The kids are probably already doing it. Do you really think it needs to be a "standard". Too much detail. Too much regulation.

Do you understand why that percentage of non fiction reading was specified? Because unfortunately in many schools (especially those with kids of low socio-economic status) students are NOT usually assigned non fiction reading (esp. in science and social studies).

Yes, in good schools, students are assigned reading in non fiction areas. but not in all schools. The standards of course can't change what happens in schools (that's under local control) but by setting the standards as the end goal, they can help influence how schools structure their programs.

[Anonymous]

Do you understand why that percentage of non fiction reading was specified? Because unfortunately in many schools (especially those with kids of low socio-economic status) students are NOT usually assigned non fiction reading (esp. in science and social studies).

I understand that when children are not reading -or are interested in reading--that the most important thing to do is get them to READ! You do that by finding things for them to read that they LIKE.

[Anonymous]

I am not against kids reading non-fiction. I prefer to let the teachers make the call.