An award winning Principal discusses the problems with Common Core Testing

Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 7 months ago to Education
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“A fool with a tool is still a fool. A fool with a powerful tool, is a dangerous fool.” That is how school reform expert, Michael Fullan, describes the implementation of Common Core State Standards in the United States. Although the idea of common standards based on high learning expectations is an appealing concept, Fullan believes that leading with testing and sanctions will cause harm, enough to result in the ultimate demise of the Common Core.
SOURCE URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/29/the-scary-way-common-core-test-cut-scores-are-selected/


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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 7 months ago
    Hello Robbie53024,
    I don't understand why so many are so eager to accept this monster (Common core). The promotion commercials are so biased and simplistic. They claim it is nothing more than raising standards; that the curriculum is not a federal mandate... blah, blah, blah. So many colleges and of course primary schools rely upon federal support… Since we already have testing standards like the SAT, why don't they just add the supposed new material required for properly prepared students of the modern era to the existing tests? Because they are disingenuous, I believe. As the story relates, the SATs are less reliable than the student’s grades, so what are they accomplishing? What are they up to?
    We have read countless examples of ridiculous and biased progressive curriculum material associated with Common Core… There is no doubt they have an agenda and local control and direction of education is not it.
    The collectivist nature of it all and the failing system already directed by big government is not conducive to trust.
    Regards,
    O.A.
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    • Posted by 10 years, 7 months ago
      O.A. Good to hear from you.

      Many have been lulled into believing whatever they are told, particularly by gov't. Others merely listen to the lies and don't bother to investigate themselves (that's work, you know). And still others, the majority I'm afraid, don't really care - even if everything that the opponents of CC say is true, those people just don't care.

      The current crew in power is very clever and are skilled at lying with the truth. For example - they state in the commercials that this is not a gov't mandate, which is technically true. But, if you take Race to the Top federal money, one of the requirements is to implement CC (and the teachers unions have pretty much mandated that the school systems will take Fed money). Another one is that this doesn't mandate a curriculum - which is true for up to 15%, which is all that is allowed to be "customized."

      I've personally read through some of what they call "standards" and they are anything but. They are wishy washy and so full of interpretation that in many cases you can insert just about anything you want and satisfy the "standard."

      There are other aspects that are not specifically CC but come along for the ride as it were. There's a database of info that will follow children through their entire lives it seems - literally from birth through at least whatever higher education they might take. And that database isn't merely grades and conduct, it includes medical, familial, family financial, gun in the home, parents drinking, parents political party affiliation, etc.

      There's also a corollary set of "standards" on human sexuality that are not independent, but are meant to be integrated across all disciplines - math, science, reading. So the kids will not merely get a math exercise on how many people live in a family (counting exercise) but will get a family with two mommies or two daddies.

      This is all being done to "fundamentally transform" our country. And it is being done more rapidly and effectively than most realize.
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 10 years, 7 months ago
    We can only hope that Common Core has a demise. I don't hold out much hope.
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    • Posted by preimert1 10 years, 7 months ago
      Dr. Brenner, I'm curios. What/how does Florida Tech accept incoming freshmen? In your opinion, have the entry test results proved valid as a measure of an individual's performance?
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      • Posted by $ jbrenner 10 years, 7 months ago
        I don't know all of the criteria for acceptance, but the acceptance criteria for Florida Tech are pretty much the same as any other solid engineering school. We do require an SAT or ACT. If someone has an IQ of 105 or higher, I can shape him/her into a solid engineer if he/she puts forth the kind of effort expected of someone in the Gulch. We have a few students who can't hack it, but suprisingly few. Most who transfer do so for financial reasons or fail due to laziness.
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        • Posted by preimert1 10 years, 7 months ago
          Engineers are trained to think objectively. Its not, "I feel like that will work", its "I KNOW that will work because of my calculations and testing."

          So assuming the SAT and ACT retain their validity and veracity in the face of the CC onslaught, you should be able to detect the effects on your students performance in a few years. Lets hope its not the "dumbing down" its projected to be.
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          • Posted by 10 years, 7 months ago
            That assumes that the college curricula and standards don't change as well. I'm sure that FT will try to maintain standards, but when you start failing more and more, they will likely be forced to be adjusted. Just an hypothesis.
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          • Posted by $ jbrenner 10 years, 7 months ago
            Either way I teach them as underclassmen: chemical engineers as freshmen and sophomores, and mechanical/aerospace engineers as sophomores. Part of my job is to make sure that the standards are set at my high, but not impossible, level.
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