A frustrated parent responds on a Common Core assignment. Looks like it's back to the old New Math.

[nadinbrzezinski]

72. Testing *is implementation.*

This is an ancient trick on military leadership that I learned in Mexico, and coincidentally my husband learned in the US navy (it works)

1. Treat everybody like you want to be treated.

2.- When you point out a problem (in this case excessive testing) not only tell me it is a problem, give me a solution, sometimes a few. Look up any of the Nordic countries and what they do. That is quite frankly part of the solution.

Also, another lesson of military leadership, never ever talk in absolutes. It will byte you in the ass. Some places are up in arms with it. Many teachers are up in arms, but San Diego unified has actually had a lot of success with it in inner city schools, that traditionally have been a dumping ground. No, none that I have ever talked likes the testing (the problem) and they have to do it, it's the law, but kids are actually doing much better.

Alas, my beat is politics (and wildfires) but education is part of it as well from time to time. So yes, common core critiques *are* in my stack of holiday reading and already read Ravitch by the way.

Comparing to other districts in the region the system is doing much better than they used to, in particular with at risk students. Part of it, I blame the new superintendent, she has one of the most positive attitudes like ever, and right now they are testing a variation that includes...perish the thought, critical thinking skills and reading at or beyond grade level by most students. It used to be at level for most students under the previous super.

She is...quite frankly, infectious. And I have yet to meet any other super in this region that is as committed to the kids and the schools.

We get it, you hate the testing. A lot of parents hate the testing...the intent of common core in theory comes from military brats, who at times gained (or lost) grade levels when moving from post to post. The concept is simple, and common across advanced economies. If you move from Pearl Harbor (horrific system by the way) to oh, San Diego Unified, you will be able to stay in grade, because everybody has learned the same concepts in the two systems. That is a laudable goal, one of the few things that former President Bush did right.

The problem, as you keep telling us is the excessive testing. Coincidentally Neil Bush makes testing material. I know you love to blame Arne Duncan for all of this, but the testing emphasis started under the Bush administration. And it not just benefited Neil. Common Core as implemented, benefited the Text Book publishers in Texas, which produce most of the books nationwide.

A solution would be that these textbooks are published by the Feds and distributed for free...your neighbor to the south does this. Kids get fresh new books every year in grammar school. They are produced in cheap news print, but every kid gets a new book every year per subject matter. In theory every kid in the Nayarit school system is learning the same core material, here I go again using that term in a global context, as a kid in Mexico City.

Alas, since we love to copy the hated Uncle Sam they have implemented school reforms (some of them way overdue) that have teachers up in arms. And testing is at issue by the way. So is teacher cert and continuing education. Testing, not such a good idea, certification and continuing education, absolutely.

Another lesson from watching policy, once you got one going, turning that ship around is incredible hard. They develop a life of their own. So you need to come up with solutions, and going back to local control, I think that ship has sailed.