On common Core

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. We know the intent

But actually some of us can walk and chew gum at the same time. Somebody else compared this constant harping to the ACA and the hate from the right. I would much rather have a well implemented national health care system. You know what? A national curricula is not crazy and has been a goal of some educators starting in 1820 or so. In the modern GLOBALIZED world it is critical.

Now that is a high policy statement. We want a kid in Pensacola to learn to add and subtract at the same grade level as a kid in Honolulu.

Now race to the top is a mid level implementation and a bad one. There are legions of reasons for that. But you know what else is a problem at a mid level policy level? We are leaving this in the hands of individual districts and are not requiring school teachers to get the continuing education to get them in line with the implementation, or worst, teaching schools are not consistent in their training either. So a few give teachers OJT in a classroom, most don't.

Another mid level policy level issue is the constant assessment. As other nations move away from it, due to the issues it causes we are adopting it. And incidentally this is a huge critique.

So going back to the ACA, should we get rid of it or just try to move forward with the reforms needed? Because you are asking us to throw away what in principle would actually modernize education if we take the high level policy, and start to actually change the implementation at the mid and low level policy making. And it could be good, but change, we all get it, is scary as hell...and having the Feds tell schools...shit kids should be able to leave first grade able to write and do some limited reading is crazy. Never mind other nations are currently having this standard in K-grade.