Anonymous wrote:

Nobody ever said that the Common Core standards would, all by themselves, solve all problems in education. That doesn't mean that they're useless, though. Or do you oppose any solution that doesn't, all by itself, solve all problems in one swoop?

Please tell me what problem they will solve.

There have been various posts on this page and the previous page of this thread, answering that very question.

Nobody ever said that the Common Core standards would, all by themselves, solve all problems in education. That doesn't mean that they're useless, though. Or do you oppose any solution that doesn't, all by itself, solve all problems in one swoop?

Please tell me what problem they will solve.

Anonymous wrote:

That's the "I've got mine" argument. Or rather, "my children have mine". What do you propose for children whose choice of parents was less wise than your children's choice?

Those kids are not left out in the cold. I work with them. They have lots of support and we make sure they get their FAFSA filled out when the time comes and get them over to NOVA to be tested there (yes, more tests, but those help them get placed in courses). Yes, they haven't been dealt a great hand, but it's not the hand you're dealt with, it's what you make of it. Some of them will do fine. Yes, some won't. But some rich kids don't do so great either. Life is a struggle for many and the many who struggle deserve some reward. And if someone feels good about being able to give their kid something (that they worked hard for), that's great. I am hoping that some of the kids I work with have that chance someday because I know they will feel proud like the previous poster. There is nothing wrong with that. Hard work should be rewarded. I don't believe that poster wants bad things for others, but he doesn't want to be robbed of what he has worked for. He didn't create that situation. There is a real fear out there of falling out of the middle class.

Actually it's the hand you're dealt AND what you make of it. But mostly the hand you're dealt.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/magazine/who-gets-to-graduate.html?_r=0

That's the "I've got mine" argument. Or rather, "my children have mine". What do you propose for children whose choice of parents was less wise than your children's choice?

Those kids are not left out in the cold. I work with them. They have lots of support and we make sure they get their FAFSA filled out when the time comes and get them over to NOVA to be tested there (yes, more tests, but those help them get placed in courses). Yes, they haven't been dealt a great hand, but it's not the hand you're dealt with, it's what you make of it. Some of them will do fine. Yes, some won't. But some rich kids don't do so great either. Life is a struggle for many and the many who struggle deserve some reward. And if someone feels good about being able to give their kid something (that they worked hard for), that's great. I am hoping that some of the kids I work with have that chance someday because I know they will feel proud like the previous poster. There is nothing wrong with that. Hard work should be rewarded. I don't believe that poster wants bad things for others, but he doesn't want to be robbed of what he has worked for. He didn't create that situation. There is a real fear out there of falling out of the middle class.

How does it make sense for Alabama to have different math standards from Wyoming or Rhode Island?

I would bet that the difference between the math standards in those states is not wildly huge. Also, the residents of those states can and should lobby for higher standards if they are dissatisfied. And, furthermore, the state standards do not completely drive the course offerings in the schools. If they did, we would not have anything beyond Algebra 2 here in Virginia (because that's the most the state requires for graduation). The truth is that the requirements to get into college are driving people's choices, especially at the high school level. The parents probably need to be educated on the entrance requirements for a national university if that is what the child wants. The good news is that students can take courses at NOVA and NOVA will help them get up to four year national college level if, for some reason, that didn't happen in high school (lack of maturity is a big reason). People under age 18 are still children (and even those over 18) in many ways.

Anonymous wrote:

I can just see the headlines: "Kid with horrible, drug addicted single mom and imprisoned dad gets into nationally ranked university due to CC Standards"

They work!

Nobody ever said that the Common Core standards would, all by themselves, solve all problems in education. That doesn't mean that they're useless, though. Or do you oppose any solution that doesn't, all by itself, solve all problems in one swoop?

Anonymous wrote:I worked my ass off to be able to get my kids into a good neighborhood with good schools. Are you? Or should we all just join hands and hope for the best?

That's the "I've got mine" argument. Or rather, "my children have mine". What do you propose for children whose choice of parents was less wise than your children's choice?

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not worried about the state cheating somebody; I'm worried about the parents who need the parenting classes. I don't think the state can really do much if the parent isn't parenting. Heck, the teacher can't really do much. What can the state do? Does the state have an obligation to get this kid into Harvard?

Maybe the state could focus more on getting the kid some food, clothes, health insurance, transportation to school, etc., but the state will never be able to take the place of a parent. Some standards are not going to do that. Sorry. BTW, which state has the most kids who have been cheated out of national college entrances? Are we keeping any data on that? Do their own instate and community colleges count or does it have to be a "national college"? For example, JMU is not really "national"---it's regionally ranked. Are the kids there ones who have been cheated?

"Parents should be better parents" is a wish, not a policy solution.

Though there are policy solutions that would help parents be better parents, such as paid parental leave; paid sick leave; jobs that pay a living wage, have regular hours, and don't injure the parent; affordable housing near transportation and jobs; affordable health care (including dental care); access to affordable, nutritious food; an end to deportations that break up families; and an end to the "war on drugs". These policy solutions are not exactly popular, though.

I read an article about how one teacher in Chicago was worried that her students weren't given the same challenging curriculum as kids in NY because they had different standards.

You need to let her know that there are students in NY who are in the same boat. It has very, very little to do with standards.

By the way, she can probably go beyond the standards while she is teaching. Even CC allows that.

I can just see the headlines: "Kid with horrible, drug addicted single mom and imprisoned dad gets into nationally ranked university due to CC Standards"


They work!

I worked my ass off to be able to get my kids into a good neighborhood with good schools. Are you? Or should we all just join hands and hope for the best?

You don't think it's a problem if one state has lower standards than another, thereby cheating their students from being competitive for national college entrances? I read an article about how one teacher in Chicago was worried that her students weren't given the same challenging curriculum as kids in NY because they had different standards.

I'm not worried about the state cheating somebody; I'm worried about the parents who need the parenting classes. I don't think the state can really do much if the parent isn't parenting. Heck, the teacher can't really do much. What can the state do? Does the state have an obligation to get this kid into Harvard?

Maybe the state could focus more on getting the kid some food, clothes, health insurance, transportation to school, etc., but the state will never be able to take the place of a parent. Some standards are not going to do that. Sorry. BTW, which state has the most kids who have been cheated out of national college entrances? Are we keeping any data on that? Do their own instate and community colleges count or does it have to be a "national college"? For example, JMU is not really "national"---it's regionally ranked. Are the kids there ones who have been cheated?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
And you know for a fact that all 50 states have similar standards?

No. I think it likely--but it doesn't matter. The standards have little impact. It has not been a problem.

If the standards have little impact, why are the opponents of the standards screaming their heads off about the standards?

Do you like to have other people spend your money on things that are useless? In fact, worse than useless? Answer me that.

Worse than useless? But I thought that the standards have little impact?

Also, how much money is actually involved, here? If I were making a list of things to be upset about on grounds that other people are spending my money on things that are useless, I'd start with the F-35 fighter jet, whose cost will range from $400 billion to $1 trillion.

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to a really high performing school. The test scores for the school are always way above the district average. I am not worried. Smart kids from families that value education and good teachers = good education. It doesn't have to be private, it doesn't have to have some kind of magic curriculum or PhD written plan. There is always going to be some kind of political hot button or trendy new idea that gets a lot of attention, but the simple truth is that none of it really matters in the long run. Just stay off drugs and don't get pregnant.

Nothing matters in the long run except going to a school that has lots of smart kids from families that value education and good teachers.

Of course, if you happen to be unable to go to a school that has lots of smart kids from families that value education and good teachers, you're out of luck. But that's other people's kids, so who cares?

(What is the emoticon for "I don't believe the stuff I just typed"?)

And that waste their kids' time for no good reason?