"Teacher of the Year" quits over Common Core tests

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You misunderstand. It is impossible to make any major change in anything without major backlash.

What is wrong with a more incremental and reflective approach? Why is top down being done? It resonates the wrong way with teachers. Some things that are forced don't work (and have to be repealed). Repealing laws has happened more than a few times in the history of the US. There has to be ground support. If you want to get more kids to do better in school, work at your state and local level (especially your local level). And, please, don't hand them a test. There is real work and learning to be done.

What does any of this have to do with the Common Core standards? Especially given that the Common Core standards were a state effort, adopted (or not adopted) by the individual states?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WAPO says that Obama will veto the bill that Congress is passing to eliminate testing portion of NCLB. That's a shame. I think liberals and conservatives agree on that.

The bill that the House Republicans passed does NOT eliminate the testing portion.

Also, "House Republican leaders view the bill as a way to show their opposition to the Obama administration’s encouragement of the Common Core state standards. The standards have been adopted in more than 40 states and spell out what English and math skills students should master at each level.

The Common Core standards have become a political issue in many states because they are viewed by critics as a federal effort, even though they were developed by U.S. governors."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-threatens-to-veto-gop-effort-to-overhaul-no-child-left-behind/2015/02/25/13766340-bd39-11e4-b274-e5209a3bc9a9_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You misunderstand. It is impossible to make any major change in anything without major backlash.

What is wrong with a more incremental and reflective approach? Why is top down being done? It resonates the wrong way with teachers. Some things that are forced don't work (and have to be repealed). Repealing laws has happened more than a few times in the history of the US. There has to be ground support. If you want to get more kids to do better in school, work at your state and local level (especially your local level). And, please, don't hand them a test. There is real work and learning to be done.

It wasn't "top-down" - it came out of the states. http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/0812BENCHMARKING.PDF

And the only reason it became "political" is because ignorant right wing assholes who have for years been pushing for deregulation and small government have been deceiving the masses into believing that this is a "top down" push, likening it to ObamaCare for Education, desperately trying to drive hatred by spreading lies and trying to tie it to the Obama administration when in fact a.) NCLB and Common Core PREDATE the Obama Administration and b.) COMMON CORE AND PARCC ARE STATE INITIATIVES.

Those are the facts, which refute pretty much everything you say and everything you stand for.

[Anonymous]

It wasn't "top-down" - it came out of the states. http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/0812BENCHMARKING.PDF

And the only reason it became "political" is because ignorant right wing assholes who have for years been pushing for deregulation and small government have been deceiving the masses into believing that this is a "top down" push, likening it to ObamaCare for Education, desperately trying to drive hatred by spreading lies and trying to tie it to the Obama administration when in fact a.) NCLB and Common Core PREDATE the Obama Administration and b.) COMMON CORE AND PARCC ARE STATE INITIATIVES.

Those are the facts, which refute pretty much everything you say and everything you stand for.

LOL! Facts? Really?

[Anonymous]

It wasn't "top-down" - it came out of the states. http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/0812BENCHMARKING.PDF

And the only reason it became "political" is because ignorant right wing assholes who have for years been pushing for deregulation and small government have been deceiving the masses into believing that this is a "top down" push, likening it to ObamaCare for Education, desperately trying to drive hatred by spreading lies and trying to tie it to the Obama administration when in fact a.) NCLB and Common Core PREDATE the Obama Administration and b.) COMMON CORE AND PARCC ARE STATE INITIATIVES.

Those are the facts, which refute pretty much everything you say and everything you stand for.

Great argument. When you cannot defend what you believe, then go on personal attacks. If you could defend it, you would not have to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It wasn't "top-down" - it came out of the states. http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/0812BENCHMARKING.PDF

And the only reason it became "political" is because ignorant right wing assholes who have for years been pushing for deregulation and small government have been deceiving the masses into believing that this is a "top down" push, likening it to ObamaCare for Education, desperately trying to drive hatred by spreading lies and trying to tie it to the Obama administration when in fact a.) NCLB and Common Core PREDATE the Obama Administration and b.) COMMON CORE AND PARCC ARE STATE INITIATIVES.

Those are the facts, which refute pretty much everything you say and everything you stand for.

LOL! Facts? Really?

I am not the PP, but yes, facts, really. These are facts:

1. There is plenty of talk about "ObamaCore".
2. There is plenty of right-wing funding against the Common Core.
3. The major political opposition to the Common Core standards comes from Republicans (see, for example, the House bill on NCLB: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-threatens-to-veto-gop-effort-to-overhaul-no-child-left-behind/2015/02/25/13766340-bd39-11e4-b274-e5209a3bc9a9_story.html )
3. NCLB is from 2001, when George W. Bush was president.
4. Work on the Common Core standards started before Obama was elected.
5. The Common Core standards were a state initiative.
6. The PARCC (and Smarter Balanced and individual state) tests are state initiatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Great argument. When you cannot defend what you believe, then go on personal attacks. If you could defend it, you would not have to do that.

It would be just as valid to say: When you cannot defend what you believe, then attack the process. If you could defend it, you would not have to do that.

[Anonymous]

When you have people going to their local school boards to complain, which way do you think the local school board will go? Do you think they will side with the feds or with the people who elected them?

[Anonymous]

It would be just as valid to say: When you cannot defend what you believe, then attack the process. If you could defend it, you would not have to do that.

So, you are saying that valid attacks on the process is the same as personal attacks? Are you sure that is what you mean?

[Anonymous]

What does any of this have to do with the Common Core standards? Especially given that the Common Core standards were a state effort, adopted (or not adopted) by the individual states?

Many states accepted CC as part of the waivers in order to get "Race to the Top" money.

States are dropping out of it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It would be just as valid to say: When you cannot defend what you believe, then attack the process. If you could defend it, you would not have to do that.

So, you are saying that valid attacks on the process is the same as personal attacks? Are you sure that is what you mean?

No, I am saying that if you have a point to make, it should be possible to make the point without either attacking the process or making personal attacks -- unless, of course, your point is solely about process. For example, if you didn't like the process used to develop the Common Core standards, but you thought the standards themselves were just fine. The argument here has been the reverse, however -- i.e., that the standards are bad BECAUSE the process was bad. If the standards are bad, then attack the standards, not the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What does any of this have to do with the Common Core standards? Especially given that the Common Core standards were a state effort, adopted (or not adopted) by the individual states?

Many states accepted CC as part of the waivers in order to get "Race to the Top" money.

States are dropping out of it now.

That still doesn't make the Common Core standards a federal effort. They were not a federal effort, and they remain not a federal effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You misunderstand. It is impossible to make any major change in anything without major backlash.


What is wrong with a more incremental and reflective approach? Why is top down being done? It resonates the wrong way with teachers. Some things that are forced don't work (and have to be repealed). Repealing laws has happened more than a few times in the history of the US. There has to be ground support. If you want to get more kids to do better in school, work at your state and local level (especially your local level). And, please, don't hand them a test. There is real work and learning to be done.


What does any of this have to do with the Common Core standards? Especially given that the Common Core standards were a state effort, adopted (or not adopted) by the individual states?

A lot. Don't complain when the states drop out since that is their right.

[Anonymous]

That still doesn't make the Common Core standards a federal effort. They were not a federal effort, and they remain not a federal effort.

The feds love it. It makes their control much easier. However, you are right, it was not a federal effort. It was a big business effort with support from politicians.

[Anonymous]

.e., that the standards are bad BECAUSE the process was bad. If the standards are bad, then attack the standards, not the process.

Okay. The standards are bad.