Sigh. I think I need to write a disclaimer about Common Core (I am a middle school special education and social studies teacher as well as a writer and I'm working madly to help align my district's curriculum planning with Common Core).
There are problems with Common Core, but this piece is a particular misnomer. It all depends on how it is applied, but the worst pieces about Common Core lie not in the use of nonfiction (that particular piece is aimed as much at science and social studies as it is language arts) but in its heavy dependence upon the Smarter Balance tests as devised by Pearson (yes, that Pearson of RandomPenguin) and its top-down imposition of standards which have demands above and beyond appropriate developmental standards. Basically, kids need to enter kindergarten knowing what they needed to know upon promotion from first grade just a few years ago in order to meet corporate education deform imposed criteria for high school graduation.
The emphasis on nonfiction in this piece by Fox is a distraction from the real, significant issues. If you want to look into it deeper, I can pass on some links. Or else go read Diane Ravitch's blog--which, really, is the best recommendation of all.
Given that education has demonstratably dumbed down over the decades, I hardly think higher standards can violate development standards, given that much younger children were learning a lot more.
Will it help you to understand my sinking of the stomach feeling if I tell you that this comment to a teacher who is heavily involved in this issue is somewhat likely to trigger a ranty mcrantypants reaction akin to those who've had to do the Feminism 101 or Racefail 101 explanation one time too many? Seriously. Education has not "demonstratively dumbed down over the decades" unless you are following the logic of corporate education deformers that, that...no.
There are so many things wrong with this statement to begin with that...sigh. I think I'll just go away, because the only people who can make such statements with straight faces are either heavily invested in corporate education deform themselves, have bought into the faux deform rhetoric, or haven't a clue.
The mere fact that you use a phrase like ‘corporate education deformers’ unironically shows that you are an extreme ideologue with an axe to grind. Pardon me if, after that, I don’t take anything else you have to say seriously.
Oh, "explanations." I regret to inform you that as a free and equal citizen, you are not entitled to demand that people accept your "explanations." You are welcome to the debate but to no privileged place in it.
Whatever. I won't make the mistake of commenting here again. There is no debate if the basic foundations of understanding are lacking. And if I want to participate in a forum biased as heavily as this one is toward blaming the teachers, there's plenty of other places where such discussion is more important.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2013-01-04 04:10 am (UTC)There are problems with Common Core, but this piece is a particular misnomer. It all depends on how it is applied, but the worst pieces about Common Core lie not in the use of nonfiction (that particular piece is aimed as much at science and social studies as it is language arts) but in its heavy dependence upon the Smarter Balance tests as devised by Pearson (yes, that Pearson of RandomPenguin) and its top-down imposition of standards which have demands above and beyond appropriate developmental standards. Basically, kids need to enter kindergarten knowing what they needed to know upon promotion from first grade just a few years ago in order to meet corporate education deform imposed criteria for high school graduation.
The emphasis on nonfiction in this piece by Fox is a distraction from the real, significant issues. If you want to look into it deeper, I can pass on some links. Or else go read Diane Ravitch's blog--which, really, is the best recommendation of all.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-04 11:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-04 06:28 pm (UTC)Will it help you to understand my sinking of the stomach feeling if I tell you that this comment to a teacher who is heavily involved in this issue is somewhat likely to trigger a ranty mcrantypants reaction akin to those who've had to do the Feminism 101 or Racefail 101 explanation one time too many? Seriously. Education has not "demonstratively dumbed down over the decades" unless you are following the logic of corporate education deformers that, that...no.
There are so many things wrong with this statement to begin with that...sigh. I think I'll just go away, because the only people who can make such statements with straight faces are either heavily invested in corporate education deform themselves, have bought into the faux deform rhetoric, or haven't a clue.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-04 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 12:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 12:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 02:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 03:08 am (UTC)And given you opened with "corporate education deform", yes, I would say that debate is not possible without the basic foundations of understanding.
As for whether blaming of teachers is appropriate, you do have a basic conflict of interest that precludes your being a judge in the matter.