My face to face experience with Common Core

Posted by Non_mooching_artist 10 years, 9 months ago to Education
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Earlier this evening, I attended my daughter's parent/teacher conferences. The first one was with her math teacher.
It started off well enough; my daughter is doing very well in his class, no issues. Well, he brings up that tomorrow, he has to teach the kids about baseball. HAS to. Then he says there will be some sort of "test" in an assembly type situation on Friday. I ask if the reason for teaching about baseball has to do with geometry, or something else math related. He said, no. Nothing whatsoever. I in turn ask if this has something to do with Common Core. Yes, it does is his reply.
Then he told me that on the assessments the kids took last week, they had "problems" in which they had to draw an answer. Not do a math computation. Draw. He also said there was trigonometry on the test. These are 8th graders. They haven't learned trig yet! I asked how that was supposed to assess any sort of understanding, when they hadn't even learned it? He said he thought it was ridiculous, and a huge waste of time.

So I ask what does your teaching the kids about baseball have to do with math? Nothing. Here's the kicker; he then tells me he's not allowed to talk about Common Core. NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT IT!? I am ready to lose it! I plan on being on the phone with as many of my state lawmakers as possible tomorrow. I need some more answers.


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  • Posted by $ AJAshinoff 10 years, 9 months ago
    This is BS! Raise hell. Tell the newspapers. Write an article an post it on the web. Blog news sites. Be vocal with the principal. Never sit silent while they erode you child's mind, I never did (my kids and their teachers hated me for it) and it was worthwhile.
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    • Posted by overmanwarrior 10 years, 9 months ago
      If public school teachers and administrators hate you, you are doing something right--because they are up to no good, and know it. Its not like its a secret. They teach submission to the state--even when they defer responsibility to the state during school board meetings. Many of those public school children will grow up oblivious to free thinking because of these public school tactics of submission.
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      • Posted by $ number6 10 years, 9 months ago
        Most teachers HATE this as well, they have ZERO choice and are pressured into this trash ... The problem lies with administrators and the politicians.

        (You can blame Bill Gates)
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        • Posted by LetsShrug 10 years, 9 months ago
          The teachers are NOT blameless. Everyone ALWAYS has a choice and they are CHOOSING to be a cog in the common core wheel when they go along with what they know is wrong. This idea that they have 'ZERO choice' is a crock. The problem lies with whom EVER goes along with it (for the sake of a pension or the union or any other weak reason). It's not just the politicians and the administrators..it's ALL of them. It's totally disgusting to not take a principled stand. If not now....when? (It sure as hell is not going to go away on it's own.) You would think educated teachers, who love their students so much, wouldn't hesitate to point out out evil and call it what it is when they see it trying to get into the classroom.
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          • Posted by $ DARdaughter 10 years, 9 months ago
            Teachers should be striking if they care one wit about children. If they can strike about benefits and pay, they can strike about this abomination. If they quit, it's not going to change anything. It just gets them out of they way of implementation. If they aren't striking, they are part of the problem. "Just following orders" as an example to the children that there is no hope of escape.
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          • Posted by $ number6 10 years, 9 months ago
            what you miss is the threat of loss of job ... so you believe they should be principled and become non producers?

            Its not about pensions, its about a job and occupation and earning a living.
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  • Posted by Eudaimonia 10 years, 9 months ago
    NMA, I know that there is a fairly sizable home-schooling community where you are.

    I don't know if that is an option or not.

    At least your daughter has a teacher who isn't a "true believer".
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    • Posted by 10 years, 9 months ago
      I think you're right about that. At this point, if my daughter gets into the school she has her sights on, CC won't be an issue, thank goodness! At the public high school, though, not sure. There haven't been any issues with my son's coursework. As a matter of fact, he's reading Fahrenheit 451 in his English class. He read Anthem earlier in the year. His English teacher GETS IT. But she's from a Eastern European country, so she would. She must be in despair seeing the events here unfolding as they are.
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  • Posted by $ DARdaughter 10 years, 9 months ago
    Common Core is NOT about academic equalization. It's about assessing your child's values and behavior modification. It's about undermining your child's familial attachments and parental authority. NMA: You've been given an opportunity to pull your child out before it's too late. You have the right to sit in the classroom and observe "assessments" (not the same as an academic test to determine if your child learned math, english etc.) You have the right to "OPT OUT" of assessments. Look out for "Smarter Balance" too. Common Core is NOT intended to teach your child anything other than to OBEY, regardless of how ridiculous or insane the curriculum gets. If you can't homeschool by yourself, please find other parents that have formed homeschool cooperatives in order to safely teach their children. I can't stress enough to anyone that may think CC is innocuous or just another new teaching "method". IT IS NOT! Here's a link to one of our efforts in NH to get this insidiousness out of our schools. Either it goes, or your children should be removed from public school. Some States are even instituting CC in Charter & Private schools. You've been warned.

    https://www.facebook.com/StopCommonCoreI...
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  • Posted by Notperfect 10 years, 9 months ago
    Non-mooch you stay on their arses like stink on sh%t for the sake of your child. Many more will follow and it will be a fight they may have not asked for. My Dad took trig in high school, but that was 1955 and it was an introduction to college classes. That was also the year he graduated from high school. A little bit of difference between then and now. Smaller classes with more of a one on one type atmosphere. I call my senators and congressmen all the time and a few are leaving Michigan for higher ground. I know you understand that analogy because we have not won and far from it, but we gotem' on the damn run. Prayers to you and your children!
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  • Posted by jpellone 10 years, 9 months ago
    After I retired from the Navy I had the opportunity to go to UT San Antonio so I decided to become an EC-4 school teacher. All during college I argued with many teachers about what they were teaching. I don't want to get in those discussions so I will leave it at that.
    My point is that when it finally came time to go through the student teaching part of my education, I had numerous disappointments with the curriculum.
    It was more important that the kids draw this teeter totter instead of simply writing 6-5=1. They are so concerned about the process, who cares if they know how to get the correct answer. History is geared around teaching the kids to hate America. Science is geared around climate change and respecting the planet. Well, the second part don't sound too bad but it is biased also.
    I graduated in 2007, took the state exam, passed it with flying colors, got certified to teach in Texas and never even applied for a job. I decided that I could not teach the crap they are shoving down our kids throats. Instead, my grandson goes to public school and then I teach him the real lessons when he gets home.
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    • Posted by 10 years, 9 months ago
      Amen! I'm glad you're involved in your grandson's education. LetsShrug is going to home school her own grandson when he's older. The tripe being poured down our kids throats is not education in any sense of the word.
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  • Posted by redoty09 10 years, 9 months ago
    I heard on a radio station news back in the mid 1990’s that college students at some college in the United States were given a test that was given to students graduating the 8th grade back in the 1890’s and the college students had trouble passing it. The government for years has talked about doing something to improve education in the United States. Looks to me like they need to start teaching the way they did in the 1890’s, with strong emphasis on the basics, reading, writing and math. My granddad, born in 1890 was fantastic at math. When I was in grade school he would help me with my homework. One time he let me give him multiple, two and three digit numbers to add up. I think I gave him about a dozen or more. After I gave him the last number he drew the line and the bottom and wrote the answer right away. I checked it by slowly adding the numbers one at a time and his answer was correct. He was able to add the numbers up in his head as he wrote them down. I have never seen anyone else able to do that. I have tried to do that many times since then and can do it for a few two digit numbers at a time but no where near as well or as fast as he could. I know he went to a business college in Kansas City Missouri and he also managed a Safeway store back in the 1930’s to the 1940’s.
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  • Posted by Zenphamy 10 years, 9 months ago
    One of the things that strikes me is the amount of parent involvement with this issue over the last few months. Interesting that it takes something like this to get so many to stand up and dig in to find out what's happening to their children. We can only hope that this involvement will continue until the parents once more gain control of their children's education.
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  • Posted by Aristocrat 10 years, 9 months ago
    I agree - not being allowed to "talk about it" has to be the last straw added together with all of the other stories about how absurd especially the math is now. Orwell predicted that math would come to this. 2+2 no longer equal's 4 and the worst part is that is only takes one generation of kids being taught this way to make it stick. Fortunately many are waking up and trying to put and end to this before it can take hold. The group I work with is collecting up all of the public school horror stories by putting out an open call to parents to tell their stories. Maybe if enough people speak out somebody will start listening. If you want to tell your story, here's the link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/03/pr...
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  • Posted by $ GMudd 10 years, 9 months ago
    I have taught in public school and this sounds very fishy, I am/was allowed to talk about Common core as much as I needed. The whole plan was to make it so that different places around the country would be on similar or the same teaching schedule to make education more uniform but it sounds like something much more sinister is in the works. How things change in such a short period of time...
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    • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 9 months ago
      What benefit would be created by making the teaching schedule more uniform? That's a ruse.
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      • Posted by $ GMudd 10 years, 9 months ago
        Think before you speak.. Making an all inclusive statement often makes it wrong. If a child's parents move often it would be beneficial if the teachers were teaching the same subject in the place moved to as the place moved from. That being said, I don't support all of the common core goals and I feel it opens the door for not only uniform education but also uniform brainwashing. Some of the exciting things for some people are also the things that scare the pants off me.
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        • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 9 months ago
          So, the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many?

          btw - I always think before speaking/typing.

          Having moved several times during my children's childhood, including to a foreign country, I've dealt with that issue. It's not that big a deal. As I said, merely a ruse.
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          • Posted by $ GMudd 10 years, 9 months ago
            "So, the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many?" Not sure where you read that but I'm done talking to someone putting words in my mouth
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 10 years, 9 months ago
    I agree you should escalate to management. I would not be surprised if he said that because he didn't know the answer. Stupidity is much more common than plots.

    If it turns out to be on purpose, you'll decide whether you want to make a case out of it to help bring about reforms or if you'll just go to another school. I respect both approaches.

    Remember we're talking about taking a handout. I have very low expectations when I'm getting a free gov't benefit. It might suck and not be worthwhile to reform. It might be better off to send them to some other school.
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    • Posted by 10 years, 9 months ago
      Yes, and I've said as much. What do we in CT need federal money for? It's not like there's really any of I for them to give anyway. Why tax people, when it is coming back? Not really, just in some mindless way and why aren't people standing up and demanding accountability!? I can figure out how to best utilize my tax dollars towards education. Stay out Feds, which they're supposed to do anyway, based on law.
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      • Posted by CircuitGuy 10 years, 9 months ago
        Yes. It becomes a sick game in which people send large amts of money and then try to get it back.

        WI provides grants to organizations that help local businesses get Fed monies. So my state taxes go to help me some of my Fed taxes back. LOL

        It's all because every time we tax each family $0.01 per year to create $1 million program, it's not worth it for the family to lobby for their $0.01, but it is worth it for the org receiving $1 million to lobby hard to keep the money coming.
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      • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 9 months ago
        Because that's how they keep a large bureaucracy employed, and are able to dole out political favors. Take away their money and they lose their power.
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  • Posted by overmanwarrior 10 years, 9 months ago
    I'm sorry you have to go through that. The reality is quite grim on that topic. I could give you books and books of information that would prove that it is every bit as bad as you think it is. Probably worse.

    At least you are awake enough to see it.

    Supporters of Common Core are falsely of the belief that studying "trig" in the 8th grade will teach young people to compete in the "global marketplace." But all it does teach them is to be unimaginative robots in service to collective systems and statist governments without question. It is really bad stuff.
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    • Posted by 10 years, 9 months ago
      It's really terrible, and I cannot understand why people aren't shouting from the rooftops. Another piece to this, the math teacher also said that government has no business in education. He's all for improving things, but not in this manner.

      My daughter's English teacher is recommending my daughter for honors English next year. One of the reasons she gave was that it's not going to be focused on argumentative writing, but more on creative writing, which she said my daughter excels at. She wants her to be challenged, not compartmentalized. An interesting evening, I must say...
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      • Posted by $ Maphesdus 10 years, 9 months ago
        Government has been involved with education for a long time now. Over a hundred years, in fact. That's nothing new. The problem here is something else.
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        • Posted by LetsShrug 10 years, 9 months ago
          And they shouldn't be. And prior to common core parents weren't physically removed from meetings for TRYING to ask a question and the boards used to be open to questions, now they avoid it like the plague. Something sinister is at work here...do the math, Maph.
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          • Posted by $ Maphesdus 10 years, 9 months ago
            I agree. Something is definitely fishy here. My point is simply that public schools can be a good thing, and have been for most of their existence. I agree that something ought to be done about Common Core, but getting rid of public schools isn't the solution.
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            • Posted by LetsShrug 10 years, 9 months ago
              I disagree. Have you taken a good look around you lately...do you see who people are electing, do you know what many of these mongers are doing to our freedom, the Constitution and so on and so forth etc etc etc??????? (Not to mention the every growing entitlement attitudes and freebie spongers). The overwhelming majority of people who elected them into office went to public school. How well is that government education really working out for this country, and for US???? And now the gov is doing a full takeover and this doesn't scare the shit out of you? Why would ANY one want their kids taught what the government decides to teach them? HAS THAT EVER WORKED OUT WELL FOR ANYONE?? History has a few examples of this very thing.
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        • Posted by LetsShrug 10 years, 9 months ago
          LOCAL government and PARENTS...not federal government. There IS a difference. And now the fed is taking over (with the help of the UN). Red flags, people!
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          • Posted by $ Maphesdus 10 years, 9 months ago
            Actually, the Federal government has been setting the standard for decades. Though this is the first time where it appears they've been trying to dictate curriculum as well.

            (NOTE: Common Core contains no curriculum - it is only standards. All this messed up curriculum appears to be coming in through another gateway.)
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    • Posted by $ Maphesdus 10 years, 9 months ago
      Learning trigonometry in 8th grade may actually be good if the kids were actually taught it. The problem arises when they talk about baseball all semester and then have tests on trigonometry.
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      • Posted by khalling 10 years, 9 months ago
        Learning trig in 8 th grade can only be effective if the student has had a firm foundation in geometry. There are foundational reasons for grouping certain math systems together. Just taking a system out of the blue and expecting students to understand the abstracts, teaches them to memorize as opposed to building on concepts they already understand. Leaves lots of kids frustrated thinking they are no good at math. Math texts written by english majors.
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        • Posted by 10 years, 9 months ago
          Aha! And that's an excellent point, K! Precisely because there is no foundation is why this is made for failure. And this will also skew results to a lower level. It's really a corrupt system. Kickbacks to state admins is rampant and has been investigated in the past. Not enough noise about that though. Go figure. Wait! They can't! They've never been taught....
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        • Posted by $ Maphesdus 10 years, 9 months ago
          Maybe teach geometry in 7th grade, then?
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          • Posted by 10 years, 9 months ago
            But that would mean most likely, a class of students who actually excel in math. They don't want that. Homogenous, bland cookie cut outs, with nothing distinguishing one from another. How boring would that be? No sprinkles or nuts or chocolate chips to make them their own unique selves! No recognition of REAL ACHIEVEMENT, because it might hurt feelings. Pah!!
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  • Posted by marysnow 10 years, 9 months ago
    Not talking about Common Core with students is a Teacher / School / District policy, not a Common Core Policy.

    Ask to see where in the Common Core standards discussing the standards with students is covered. ( Politely asking to see where a policy is documented is a good reality test. Frequently you discover that there is no such documentation and that it is just an excuse. ) The Common Core Standards are specified at www.commoncore.org. When states accept the Common Core Standards they may make some modifications but many have adopted the standards as is.

    This is public education push back (aka passive resistance) against a policy the administration does not want to implement.

    This is a replay of NCLB, the original intent has a lot of value. There may be some implementation problems which need to be addressed but the underlying idea is valid. At the middle level the administration does not like or accept the policy so it is implemented in such a way [and at such cost] as to make it fail. Think of how the implementation would go on these policies if those involved in the implementation supported the policy.

    Withdrawing a child from Public School sends a very real message to the district because it has financial implications. The district no longer receives the dollars to educate this student. If enough parents do this then the school budget is impacted.

    The purpose of many school districts has become to continue to employ staff rather than educate students. These policies come with dollars for implementation thereby providing more jobs so the district accepts and appears to implement the policy. Rather than addressing the implementation problems, they are used as opportunities to demonstrate the policies short comings at the expense of the students.

    The purpose of most Charter and Private schools is to educate students. Some Charter and Private schools have been implementing Common Core standards for a long time. Take a look at Core Knowledge Schools
    [www.coreknowledge.org ] This is where the Common Core Standards originated.
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    • Posted by $ DARdaughter 10 years, 9 months ago
      Children all over the country are being required to sign "oaths" that they will not discuss any assessment (or test) with their parents. Teachers ARE directed to not discuss its contents with ANYONE. This has nothing to do with a District's policy. It is the requirement the school is bound by when they accept CC.
      Some very smart children have started photographing their tests with hidden phones in order to get this info out to the general public. Don't underestimate the schools lying to you or your children.
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      • Posted by marysnow 10 years, 9 months ago
        Requiring children to sign an oath is not acceptable, but I don't think that was in the original Common Core State Standards Initiative [ http://www.corestandards.org ]. I can not find this requirement anywhere on the official website. I think this is the standardized testing companies going way over the top.

        Also my apologies for using the wrong URL for the common core website in my original post. The correct URL is http://www.corestandards.org not http://www.commoncore.org.

        I think if you review the official site, you will find it is significantly different than what is being implemented. I am not surprised but am disappointed.
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      • Posted by 10 years, 9 months ago
        That is completely unacceptable to me that I am not allowed to have a candid discussion with my daughter's teachers about this! I'm working out the final draft of a letter I'm sending to the superintendent as well as the newspaper. I'm going to be a very irritating presence, indeed!
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  • Posted by Eyecu2 10 years, 9 months ago
    Let you kid stay home and maybe actually spend some time with you learning something useful.

    Like teach your daughter the geometry, trigonometry or better yet the stats involved in baseball. The test is complete BS and you should blow that off as well.

    A little story. Several years ago my aunt who taught 2nd grade, got on to me when she heard me telling my oldest that she has the right to question authority. When I turned to my aunt and asked her where America would be today if our founding fathers had a similar view. She tried to tell me that that was different. So I responded with a quote from the Bible, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." My aunt is one of those Holy Roller types and all she did was close her mouth and then she left my house, she never came back.
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  • Posted by $ Maphesdus 10 years, 9 months ago
    My suggestion is to pull your kids out and put them in a good private school. Alternatively, if either you or your spouse has the free time, you could try home schooling your kids.

    I know I've made comments defending public school in the past, but that was under the assumption that public schools were providing good curriculum to their students. If they're not, well, that changes things completely...
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