Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Video criticizing Common Core - a bit disturbing!

Add me to the group of "the more I dig into the Common Core Standards, the more questions I have." And I did some research - the guy does not seem to be lying about the National Governor’s Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers partnering with Achieve, Inc., (a non-profit that gets funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). Nor does he appear to be incorrect or lying about how the English consultant Sandra Stotsky feels about CC. He also does not appear to be lying about the “bribery” although you may disagree with his word usage. Honestly, whether I ultimately end up agreeing with the guy or not I think he did a pretty good job – I mean, he only had five minutes and he’s like 17 (?)

Anyway, I’m really enjoying the debate this has sparked here. I love hearing all of your opinions and viewpoints. I do not have much of an opinion … yet. BUT I am dismayed by my growing gut feeling that this is just another gimmick (or whatever you want to call it) and our children are the guinea pigs or the true “pawns,” if you will.
My son (8 years old) and I watched the video of the angry moms who pulled their kids out of school math. When the reporter showed the example math problem that was so hard for the girl, my son said “hmm that’s not hard for me, that’s actually the part I am starting to really like.” And I thought to myself that’s because that is the way his teacher is teaching him (he practices that in school all of the time this year). I, probably, as a student (and yes embarrassingly maybe even now) would find that method difficult … Most likely because I just wasn’t taught that way and found just solving math problems hard enough never mind making them up myself. (And, as an aside, I am not sure what math standards or curriculum I was taught to but I am horrible at math, started hating in 4th grade maybe? Maybe 3rd? And I am certain I was not taught well and I do have a higher IQ so I do believe I was capable but did need decent instruction, which I never really got.) So, I see how suddenly being expected to be able to do that method suddenly in middle school would be a problem and cause a panic. And I think to myself, “so, what will happen when my kids reach middle school will there be yet ANOTHER method/way that suddenly they have to be able to test to? Will they in a few years scrap this entire method/standards/curriculum whatever and suddenly have another one that teens will be scrambling to get up to speed on?” Then I think to myself, “well, I am just gonna keep getting my child tutored by the older gentlemen who taught math all his life and between that and the school he should be good no matter what happens.” But really, isn’t that kind of sad? What about those that don’t have that resource.

I am not an educator… I have no idea what the answer is, but it sort-of looks like total chaos out there right now in the education world and it’s a little scary because it’s our children it is affecting. Hopefully, it will all be okay and work out well!