Opus 2013-376: CCC: A Goal That Is Not a Goal

The Common Core Curriculum (CCC) continues to work its way into the nation’s schools.  Just as Barak Obama was very clear in his goals if you were listening, the CCC also says things that go over our heads.

The website makes this impressive, yet deceptive, statement:

“Building on the excellent foundation of standards states have laid, the Common Core State Standards are the first step in providing our young people with a high-quality education. It should be clear to every student, parent, and teacher what the standards of success are in every school.”

This does not represent reality or intent.  For years California has had the “excellent foundation of standards” that this speaks about.  I am most familiar with the history standards.  Since I am a human being, I would make minor changes to include and exclude, but on the whole the content standards I have been given to cover are a job well done.  They needed no changes except tweaking for personal preference. 

Notice I said “needed.”  In our faculty meeting this week we were told that we would not be testing on those standards any more and that at the end of the year they would be gone.  In other words, the “excellent foundation” is being thrown away.  It is being replaced by, drum roll please,...nothing.  That’s right, nothing. 

If you take the time to go to the site you will find that they only have English Language Arts and Mathematics standards.  When asked, we have been told that science and history will be somehow folded into the other standards.  This is the bold step forward we are facing.

It does not sound like progress to me, but then I am not a Progressive. 

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