Common Core

[SuzySunshine]

Can someone please explain to me what this is? We are sending the kids to the catholic school affiliated with our church, I found out recently that they are instituting it gradually this year and then it will be the standard in 2014-15. My understanding is that our state was one of the states originally for it but now may not be instituting it because of politics so our public school kids aren't even using it.

I will admit in being completely clueless when it comes to this kind of stuff. I grew up in a small town where your only option was the public school so that is where we went. I was WOEFULLY unprepared for college but managed to get through with a decent GPA.

I have tried to look online to find out what this is, what it means, etc. and everything is so polarizing on one side or the other I gave up. Another group I'm in online tried to discuss it but it wasn't' really a discussion.

So if someone can point me to some resources that say what it is, what it means and what we, as parents, should do to help I would appreciate it. Someone point me in the right direction if we've already talked about it too because I searched and didn't find anything.

(Of course we're going to miss the parent meeting for the school about it as well because we'll be at BIL's wedding!)

[Sheherezade]

I can post some resources later when I'm on a real computer. I think Sally probably knows the most since I believe her area has already transitioned and she's in education. We are going CC next year as well and we've had several parent info sessions.

[Curegirl]

We're transitioning to Common Core starting this coming year. I only know about the English and Language Arts portion since that's what I teach, but essentially it's supposed to provide a more enriching curriculum for students...there's no set reading list but there are some critical content that's supposed to be covered. Also, there's an emphasis on opinion writing that's supposed to help them write better essays and papers as they enter college. It comes down to funding though, because for states to be eligible for certain government grants, they need to adopt CC. Is that correct? My friend is in charge of curriculum but we haven't talked at length about the changes and what this all entails.

[SuzySunshine]

I have read several things in the last few days that say the k-3 standards are to aggressive and that testing under 8 doesn't indicate anything. That is my biggest concern.

My other question is are private schools required to take the same testing as public?

[GrayMatterWife]

It will mean more testing, and in evaluation, there is more emphasis on process than correctness. Technically, Common Core is not a federal mandate (schooling is a local or state issue); it is more of a bribe. The federal government will give money to states that do Common Core, so states are doing it. Many private schools are getting on board, in large part because standardize testing will be modified to better dovetail with Common Core.

It's all a huge control and money racket. BigFedGov is extending its tentacles and the mega-industry of perpetual standardized testing is making a fortune. Meanwhile, parents are under the delusion that their kids will learn more because the phrase "Common Core" sounds so fundamental and solid. Ugh.

Yet one more reason to consider homeschooling.

[spotty_dog]

Our state is nearly done transitioning. From where I sit, I see slightly more rigorous standards in math that are more like the Singapore math that we do at home than the previous standards were. I don't see a lot of benchmarks to compare the language arts standards, but the criticisms I've heard (mostly that the standards dictate the reading lists of schools) have been debunked. I like that the standards raise the bar for many states that previously had no standards or sub-par ones. I like that the broad adoption of the guidelines will ensure that a student who moves from, I dunno, second grade at one school to third at another, won't miss any important content. I don't like that more testing is implied, but in my state anyway, nothing about testing has changed yet.

I dunno. I think the public school system is very broken and this is an attempt to patch one small part of it. In my state where we already had strong standards, I don't anticipate much change educationally. It remains to be seen if it will be helpful or harmful, and we'll just keep playing it by ear here I guess.

[SuzySunshine]

It will mean more testing, and in evaluation, there is more emphasis on process than correctness. Technically, Common Core is not a federal mandate (schooling is a local or state issue); it is more of a bribe. The federal government will give money to states that do Common Core, so states are doing it. Many private schools are getting on board, in large part because standardize testing will be modified to better dovetail with Common Core.

It's all a huge control and money racket. BigFedGov is extending its tentacles and the mega-industry of perpetual standardized testing is making a fortune. Meanwhile, parents are under the delusion that their kids will learn more because the phrase "Common Core" sounds so fundamental and solid. Ugh.

Yet one more reason to consider homeschooling.

GMW - let me ask you this, the private school that you tried (and are still trying?) to get your son into - are they going to it?

I found an article that says most catholic schools are switching to it while most private schools aren't ?!?!?

[mommax3]

I agree with everything GMW said. Schools that take state money (in the form of vouchers, in the case of private schools....Indiana has a big voucher system) have to do state testing, and will be compelled to transition to Common Core. Others may participate in testing so they can tout their scores in hopes of recruiting students. The argument I have heard the most in my state (beyond the fact that many believe schools should be under local control) is that the Common Core standards are slightly looser than the state standards we have and are less clear, as well. The testing mentality these days is madness. It isn't just *the* test, it is the testing to see the kids are on track to pass *the* test. The kids at my school are doing some kind of standardized testing at least once a month. When it came time for *the* test this year (taken online), the company administering the test was not prepared for the traffic volume and their servers went down. Hundreds of kids were booted off line in the middle of a test. We don't have scores back yet and school starts in less than a month...and we don't know if the scores we get will be validated or not, due to the technical difficulties. Teachers' salaries and evaluations are dependent on the outcome of these tests....it's such a mess. Meanwhile, these testing companies are making money hand over fist.

[GrayMatterWife]

GMW - let me ask you this, the private school that you tried (and are still trying?) to get your son into - are they going to it?

I found an article that says most catholic schools are switching to it while most private schools aren't ?!?!?

The private school we like--the one with 70 applicants to every one opening...and which we've pretty much given up on--is not switching. At least, not that I know of. But, they certainly don't need to. They do a great job at educating and their students do a great job on standardized exams. It would probably not help their marketing one bit by changing to adopt the Common Core. Most people are trying to get away from ineffective public schooling test-obsessiveness--and they sure as heck aren't paying all that money to have DC tell them what should be in their curriculum in terms of objectives.

[GrayMatterWife]

I am so fed up with the pointless testing, dumbing down of standards, and amounts of school time that is utterly wasted. DS's teacher last year was really nice and did a great job for what she was given, but it was basically a wasted year. He learned almost nothing new, other than how to stand in a line (which he already knew, I am pretty sure). He got all As in everything he did, and received this marks for no reason. He completely skated. He could just do A-level work while skating.

We've decided to homeschool DS next year. I started in May, and it seems to be going really well. I have my fingers crossed. I am sure we'll re-enroll him at some point after next year, but

[GrayMatterWife]

I am so fed up with the pointless testing, dumbing down of standards, and amounts of school time that is utterly wasted. DS's teacher last year was really nice and did a great job for what she was given, but it was basically a wasted year. DS learned almost nothing new, other than how to stand in a line (which he already knew, I am pretty sure). He got all As in everything he did, and received these top marks for no reason. He completely skated. He could just do A-level work while skating.

We've decided to homeschool DS next year. I started in May, and it seems to be going really well. I have my fingers crossed. I am sure we'll re-enroll him at some point after next year, but for now, we're doing this.

[SuzySunshine]

That is the other thing that gets me - NCLB was Bush, right? and now CC is Obama - so in a few years when there is a new president (regardless of party) there will be something new right - more money wasted to change everything again. As someone who is just starting this journey with kids who will go to college in 13 - 15 years I want something consistent - something that isn't going to change with the whims of politics every 4-8 years and that doesn't seem possible unless we go private/i.e. expensive...

[GrayMatterWife]

That is the other thing that gets me - NCLB was Bush, right? and now CC is Obama - so in a few years when there is a new president (regardless of party) there will be something new right - more money wasted to change everything again. As someone who is just starting this journey with kids who will go to college in 13 - 15 years I want something consistent - something that isn't going to change with the whims of politics every 4-8 years and that doesn't seem possible unless we go private/i.e. expensive...

Politicians on a national level of every stripe should butt out. Bush doesn't know what is best for my child and my community and more than Obama does.

[SuzySunshine]

They should, but they won't

[spotty_dog]

We've decided to homeschool DS next year. I started in May, and it seems to be going really well. I have my fingers crossed. I am sure we'll re-enroll him at some point after next year, but for now, we're doing this.

I firmly believe that no institution can match the quality of an education that's tailored to the child. Good luck!