Anonymous
05/08/2014 06:45
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Before all this testing, we did have standards. Instead of concentrating on schools that were weak and trying to improve them, they decided to close the achievement gap--from the top down.
Not sure I follow- thought people were complaining that the new standards are too hard?
Yes, the problem with the new standards is that they are too hard. Also, the problem with the new standards is that they are too easy. Also, this is not self-contradictory, because the problem with the new standards is that they are standards.
Anonymous
05/08/2014 06:42
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don't like Common core, but this mess about the holocaust denial has nothing to do with it.
When a district states the paper was to meet common core standards, you have an issue. Clearly, the district didn't understand Common Core. Why is that?
I once had a kindergartener take a marker and write FUK and DAM on the bathroom walls. His behavior demonstrated mastery of the following Common Core standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.1.A
Print many upper- and lowercase letters.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.2.C
Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.2.D
Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.
That doesn't mean that the behavior was OK or that the standards are bad. It simply means that it's a teacher's job to teach their students when and how to apply their skills.
A student who can read papers by holocaust deniers and historians, decide which one they agree with, and write an essay explaining their argument while citing specific evidence from that text, is in fact demonstrating mastery of the CCSS. So, in that sense that district is right. This assignment does meet the CCSS. That doesn't make it in any way appropriate. There are, after all, many other topics a student can write about to demonstrate mastery of the same standard, just as there are many other words and surfaces my kindergarten could have used to demonstrate his prowess at spelling and handwriting.
They were given 3 reference books - all supported the hoax theory
And your point is.....?
That's kind of not unbiased research if the research materials were restricted to one side...
Anonymous
05/07/2014 23:42
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
Anonymous wrote:Before all this testing, we did have standards. Instead of concentrating on schools that were weak and trying to improve them, they decided to close the achievement gap--from the top down.
Not sure I follow- thought people were complaining that the new standards are too hard?
Anonymous
05/07/2014 22:11
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
Before all this testing, we did have standards. Instead of concentrating on schools that were weak and trying to improve them, they decided to close the achievement gap--from the top down.
Anonymous
05/07/2014 22:10
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
Publish the standards. Let each system decide if they want to use them or not, and then let the teachers teach! Drop the rest of the requirements.
Anonymous
05/07/2014 22:09
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
What do you mean "what counts?". I don't understand your question. My point is the implementation of the standards (which are good IMO) is siphoning public money away from schools and enriching Pearson so it can develop crappy curriculum and yet more testing (bad). Instead of giving teachers raises and putting more resources into schools, we're sending it to a for profit company whose "products" are making kids and their parents miserable. So, I'm arguing that the anger about the whole issue is misplaced in its focus on standards, versus curriculum and testing.
I think we agree. I don't think it is just the standards that are upsetting people. You are right, though. NO one is benefiting as much as Pearson, and people are deceiving themselves if they think otherwise.
Anonymous
05/07/2014 22:05
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
Anonymous wrote:The standards themselves are great - but the curriculum, testing, and the implementation of the entire thing is a disaster.
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And, tell me what counts--the standards or the rest.
What do you mean "what counts?". I don't understand your question. My point is the implementation of the standards (which are good IMO) is siphoning public money away from schools and enriching Pearson so it can develop crappy curriculum and yet more testing (bad). Instead of giving teachers raises and putting more resources into schools, we're sending it to a for profit company whose "products" are making kids and their parents miserable. So, I'm arguing that the anger about the whole issue is misplaced in its focus on standards, versus curriculum and testing.
Anonymous
05/07/2014 21:50
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
The standards themselves are great - but the curriculum, testing, and the implementation of the entire thing is a disaster.
[Report Post]
And, tell me what counts--the standards or the rest.
Anonymous
05/07/2014 21:48
Subject: Why are people so upset about Common Core?
I'm not about to read 78 pages, but in my opinion the demon here is Pearson, who basically has a monopoly on the development of standards and testing related to CC across the country. The standards themselves are great - but the curriculum, testing, and the implementation of the entire thing is a disaster.
Anonymous
05/07/2014 21:45
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
Anonymous wrote:And much more informative than follow-the-money-while-being-on-the-lookout-for-devilish-details
You do know that is what causes the problems? All the devilish details? Which might not be there were it not for all the money to be made?
Yes but actually discussing specific details is more useful than simply repeating the same catch phrase over...and over....and over.....
Anonymous
05/07/2014 21:44
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
Anonymous wrote:It is not tied to Common Core State Standards. Texas has not adopted Common Core state standards; they are using their own, Texas standards.
It IS linked to No Child Left Behind, and to funding from the federal government towards public education.
NCLB is different from Common Core state standards.
It doesn't matter if it is linked to CC or not. CC implementation has a requirement of linking tests to teacher performance--or no money.
Source please! And again, what does the issue in Houston have to do with Common core, if Texas has not adopted it? You're really grasping at straws now.
Anonymous
05/07/2014 21:36
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
PS, if you want to start a thread criticizing Race to the Top, go nuts! I'll post frequently. I don't like Race to the Top at all! Common Core, I like.
Anonymous
05/07/2014 21:35
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
Anonymous wrote:It is not tied to Common Core State Standards. Texas has not adopted Common Core state standards; they are using their own, Texas standards.
It IS linked to No Child Left Behind, and to funding from the federal government towards public education.
NCLB is different from Common Core state standards.
It doesn't matter if it is linked to CC or not. CC implementation has a requirement of linking tests to teacher performance--or no money.
No, Common Core State Standards do NOT require linking tests to teacher performance.
You are perhaps thinking of Race to the Top? Or No Child Left behind?
Anonymous
05/07/2014 19:32
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
Anonymous wrote:It is not tied to Common Core State Standards. Texas has not adopted Common Core state standards; they are using their own, Texas standards.
It IS linked to No Child Left Behind, and to funding from the federal government towards public education.
NCLB is different from Common Core state standards.
It doesn't matter if it is linked to CC or not. CC implementation has a requirement of linking tests to teacher performance--or no money.
The fact that teachers in Houston are suing about their teacher evaluation system, which has nothing whatsoever to do with the Common Core standards, because Texas did not adopt the Common Core standards, proves that the Common Core standards (which say nothing about teacher evaluation systems) are bad.
Good to know.
Anonymous
05/07/2014 17:03
Subject: Re:Why are people so upset about Common Core?
It is not tied to Common Core State Standards. Texas has not adopted Common Core state standards; they are using their own, Texas standards.
It IS linked to No Child Left Behind, and to funding from the federal government towards public education.
NCLB is different from Common Core state standards.
It doesn't matter if it is linked to CC or not. CC implementation has a requirement of linking tests to teacher performance--or no money.