Read the following article:
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/08/20/common-core-support-waning-most-now-oppose-standards-national-surveys-show
Answer the following questions relating to the article:
1. Explain the Common Core Standards. What are they?
2. Why have the Standards become so divisive among politicians and teachers? What's the big deal?
3. What is the "Race to the Top" program? In your opinion, is the federal government using this program to force the Common Core on state education systems? Explain.
4. What is Alabama's stance on the Common Core? How does the Common Core relate to Alabama's College and Career Readiness Standards, adopted in 2010?
5. Who is Bobby Jindal? How has his stance on the standards changed in the last couple of years? Do you believe that this is politically motivated?
6. What is your opinion on the state of education in the nation? In our state?
7. Is it better to run education at the state or federal level? Why?
Makenzie Taylor
ReplyDelete1) The Common Core Standards spell out the English and Math skills that students are required to have as they go from Kindergarten to high school. It isn't a day-by-day syllabus for teacher's lessons.
2) The Standards are so divisive among politicians and teachers because teachers believe that the Common Core Standards AND the standardized tests aren't helping the children in anyway. They also believe that they are setting up public education for failure. The politicians believe that a reform is long pass due and Common Core will help students to catch up with their counterparts in countries like China and Singapore.
3) The "Race to the Top" program is a $4.35 billion contest created to urge other methods and reforms in K-12 education. I think the federal government IS using this program to force the Common Core on state education systems. Giving the states the chance to have a chunk of $4.35 billion definitely had to persuade SOME states to implement educational reforms.
4) Alabama has already adopted Common Core. Common Core was suppose to have a set of high standards for the classrooms nationwide that would ensure the children that graduated from high school would be prepared for college and eventually a career.
5) Bobby Jindal is the Governor of Louisiana. He was one of the first governors to accept Common Core. Now, he is taking a stance against the standards. In my opinion, I can't really tell what his intentions were. I know that he was one of the first governors to accept the standards, but maybe all of the recent problems made him want to oppose them. But considering the fact that he is probably a very political person, he probably had some sort of political influence.
6) I think that the state of education in the nation is apparently not working out right now. It seems as if the Common Core is not a very effective OR efficient way of teaching children. If it is causing this much amount of commotion, just comply and repeal it. As a state, if we also feel that the state of education is not working well for us and that there are as many problems here as there are nationally, then we should also repeal.
7) It is better to run education at the federal level because that way every kid is getting their education in the same way. But if we are all going to do it in the same way, then it needs to be an effective way of learning. So as of right now, Common Core is not satisfying the masses. Do something.
Kat Phillips
ReplyDelete1. a standered that all teachers must meet and follow that is different by each grade
2. that the teachers don't have the freedom to teach in their individual ways and they have to follow certain procedures that don't apply to the class.
3. a program that is "helping" kids prepare for college and help them be more knowledgeable.yes because with the race to the top funding the schools who need the funding take the program in along with the money not knowing how bad it will be.
4.Alabama has accepted the common core standered but a lot of the the teachers dont like it. it "helps" kids be ready for college that goes along with the college and career reediness program.
6. in our nation i believe our education balances out because some places have very good education for example the states without common core. in our state i believe that we have okay edcation but its not practical all the time.
7.state i totally belive because that does give a more individual approach and help get a better one on one look and the state can hear the concerns of the educators.
Shalyn Dale
ReplyDelete1) Using my own words, I would say that Common Core is like a universal textbook used across the country making sure that all of us are on the same page.
2) The standards are causing commotion mainly bc a few years ago people didn't even know the standards existed, and now that they do they feel as in the standards are unreasonable.
3) The "Race to the Top" program is a program similar to Common Core, but instead of all the kids being on the same level, its focus is to make sure that we actually succeed in life and understand what we're doing. I wouldn't say the government made this program to force CC on education, I would just say the government is giving CC a little push by basically "Hey, your program is good and all. BUT...."
4) N/A
5) He is the governor of Louisiana.Yes, when common core first came out he was all for it, now he has taken a strong stand against it.
6) My answer to both is this, there are a few cool teachers out here like you & Mr.McDonald that actually make school, and learning fun. For the most part though, school isn't even about learning anymore . Its about swallowing some dumb stuff we're never going to use in real life, regurgitating it onto test papers and praying we pass.
7) State, the whole country isn't on one level.
Carter Billings 3rd (1 The Common Core Standards outline what the student should know by the end of the school year. (2 The big deal is the things that may follow with the Common Core Standards such as federal intrusion and accountability measures. (3 The "Race to the Top" program is a program that gives money to the states that implement the new standards. Yes, in a way I think that the government is using this program to make the states adopt the standards because the schools don't have that much money so if they adopt the standards they a piece of 4.35 billion dollars. (4 Alabama is one of the states to adopt the common core standards. The Common Core Standards and the College and Career Readiness Standards both deal with a certain material the kids have to know by the end of the school year. (5 Bobby Jindal is the Governor of Louisiana. Jindal was one of the first Governors to accept the new standards with open arms, but he soon took a stance and said he wanted the new standards gone. Yes, I think that Jindal's stance was politically motivated. I think that his sudden change of heart went with the flow of hatred for the standards. He did this to when the heart of people and to win their votes. (6 I think that having a standard of things that have to be taught would be good, but it needs to be flexible to bend around states needs. I think in our state we need to have school districts talk about a flexible plan to implement. (7 In my opinion education needs to be ran by the state. If education is ran by the state then it is easier to discuss what things are wanted and what is not. If the government had to do it, the standards would be broad and hard to teach, If it was localized then the system would work better because it would be flexible and bend around states needs.
ReplyDeleteKe-Anna' Rich: 1. Common Core Standards are the regulations on what students learn and teachers teach.
ReplyDelete2. They don't think the standards are helpful to the students.
3. The "Race to the Top" program is money given to states that use certain education reforms and in my opinion it is being used to get states to use Common Core, because they are basically selling Common Core to the states.
4. Alabama has adopted Common Core. Common Core is like Alabama's Standardized tests.
5. Bobby Jindal is the Governor of Louisiana. His stance has changed from supporting the Standards to opposing them. I think this does have something to do with politics, because he wants to be on the side that is quickly growing.
6. In my opinion the education in the nation is not very good, because there are a lot more drop-outs and America is not as educational as other places in the world. I think Alabama's education could be better, because it is not as good as some other states in America.
7. Education is better run on the federal level, because that way everyone gets the same level of education instead of some places having better education than others.
Grace Singley
ReplyDelete1. Common Core Standards are standards that teachers have to follow and shows what each student should know for the certain grade by the end of the year.
2. Because many parents and teachers see the standards as "setting up public education for failure" rather than actually helping kids; and also they say the standards weren't debated on at all, people were just excited about the money.
3. The race to the top is a program supported by Obama administration that says if states agree to adopt college- and career-ready standards, then they will receive "Race to the top funding." Yes, because some states may be willing to get the standards only because of the money, and not realize the effects that it will have on the education.
4. Alabama as a state has accepted the common core standards but many teachers have not agreed with it.
5. Bobby Jindal is the governor of Louisiana and one of the strongest people opposing the standards. At first he agreed to the standards, but over the last couple of years, his opinion has changed.
6. In the nation I think we have a good variety of education. and in our state I feel that its going okay but it would be better if we made some changes like not having the common core standards.
7. I think its better to run education at state level so that the state can get more input and interactions with the teachers and people that certain things, like common core, affect.
Khushi Patel
ReplyDelete1. Common core standards are a set of expectation in a state. What the students should know at the end of each year.
2. To make students succeed but mostly the situation is about politics not education.
3. yes it does! Because they are giving money for it.And which school doesn't want money? they are getting money from just having those standards.
4. Alabama has adopted the common core.
5. He is Louisiana's governor. He used to be a supporter but now it against it. i do believe that he is politically motivated.
6 I feel that people and politicians need to focus ONLY on education and not money and finds better ways to make everyone succeed. And at the end that person will do good for the nation is he/she does succeed.
7.I think federal so that anyone can choose where to study. for example some family's move a lot and if they go to state with different standards that student is gonna have problems and even make bad grades to start off with. And if someone studies their whole life in Alabama but they want to go to college in Mississippi, they might not get all the scholarships as they would get in an college in Alabama might offer.
Troy Banks
ReplyDelete1. They are standards that must be met by a student each school year in order for them to pass the grade that they're in.
2. Many claim that the standards are too demanding on students.
3. It is a funding program that would give states quite a chunk of money if they adopted educational reform. I certainly do. What they have done with the program is outright bribery, and it's quite obvious. President Obama blatantly alludes to this in his speech referenced in the article.
4.Alabama wishes to repeal it. It's pretty much an overdub of standards they've already put into place.
5. He is the governor of Louisiana. He has changed from being all for common core, to wanting to discard of it. I think that his change is almost entirely politically motivated.
6. In the nation, the facts speak for themselves. As a whole, we are an extremely unintelligent country. As for the state of Alabama, well...the stereotypes aren't necessarily wrong when it comes to the south and smarts. Alabama, to me, is a shining representation of the overall level of intellect in our country.
7. This is one of the things that should be ran at the federal level. I think if we ran education at the state level, as we do now, some states would be much farther ahead than others, as some are now. I think that if we're going to raise our overall level of intelligence in this country, we need to do it as a whole and do it together.
Lorenzo B. Winston:
ReplyDelete1. The Common Core Standards were developed beginning in 2009 as a joint effort between two national groups made up of state officials: the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The English and math standards lay out what students should know at the end of each school year.
2. The Standards have become so divisive among politicians and teachers because the Standards are confusing and expensive. The big deal is that they think it causes an unacceptable infringement on local school autonomy.
3. The Race to the Top program is a $4.35 billion United States Department of Education contest created to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education. It is funded by the ED Recovery and was announced by President Barack Obama and in July 2009, nearly a year before the final draft of Common Core was released. States were to implement certain educational reforms, including the adoption of internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace. I don’t think that the program is to force the Common Core on state education systems. I think that the program is used to make the curriculum and the standards easier and more understandable for teachers, students, parents, and the government.
4. Alabama stance is that the state has adopted the Common Core Standards. The Common Core Standards and Alabama’s College Career Readiness Standards are related to one another because they both bring a new level of rigor and perceptual understanding to teaching and learning.
5. Bobby Jindal is the Louisiana Governor. His stance on the standards is that he wants out of both of the standards and the associated testing consortium. He filed a lawsuit against the state boards, saying that the state’s involvement with the standards is part of a “federal scheme to drive education curriculum from Washington, D.C.”
6. My opinion on the state of education in the nation is that it is perfect just the way it is. I think that it isn’t too challenging but it’s not a piece of cake. The state of education in Alabama, on the other hand, is way too much of a piece of cake. It can get challenging from here and there, but try living under Georgia or Michigan’s curriculum People in other states, especially the northern states, think they are more educated than because their curriculum is on a “higher level.”
7. I think it is better to run education at the state. Forget the federal because they are going to give all of the states the equal curriculum. The federal government doesn’t know what each state is capable of. If they run education, some states may think that the curriculum is too easy; some states may think the curriculum is too hard, some states may not even care about the curriculum. It is just more safe to run education under the state.
MacKenzie Jones
ReplyDelete1.) Its a standard adapted in 2009 by the U.S. aiming to raise student achievement by standardizing what's taught in school across the nation.
2.) Some people feel its much more difficult.
3.) Where the federal government gave states $4.35 million if they implemented certain educational reforms. I'm still sort of kind of confused on this but I think it isn't forcing it because it may mean more than just using common core but it could possibly also be forcing it by saying "certain educational reforms" which in cases that those certain ones would be required to be common core.
4.) They support it
5.) He is the Governor of Louisiana, at first when common core was released he supported it and now he supposedly opposes against it now and wants to get rid of it. Really there is no true proof as to weather it could be politically motivated or not.
6.) Personally I feel that it could be better but if people really wanted to increase the nations education than they would've by now and at this point in life I'm worried about MY education. I'm not trying to sound selfish in anyway but if people don't care about their education than let them not care its their life.
7.) Id probably have to say by state to be honest. Just due to the fact that it could be more equal and I think people should vote on what they want, and even if they don't get to and what ever the state chooses to do and they dislike it they can simply move to another state.
Josie Parham
ReplyDelete1- The standards basically say that students will be more prepared for college through standardized tests and more vigorous work.Also, they will be understanding the material instead of memorizing it.Most of all they will be learning the same thing as 46 other states because common core puts everyone on the same page. Also the teachers will receive support from the program.
2- Because America is not used to big change and some students are having trouble with the more vigorous work.
3- A program pushing states to take on higher education levels. Yes I think this is a way for the government to slowly push everyone to use common core because it literally says a program to help schools want to take in a higher education level that is common core.
4- Alabama wants to repeal it because we think it is not well rounded and will fall apart. The standards are based on combining common core and Alabama's standard education.
5- Governor of Louisiana, he was all for it when it came out and now he claims to hate it.Yes i do think that it may be political but maybe he just liked it at first and then when they really started using it it just didn't work out.
6- I do not like common core at all, I think teachers should be able to teach in their own way. But im at a crossroads because i know many people who had a teacher and they taught the complete wrong thing and then when they get to high school and college they have no idea whats going on.
7- I think state because the government already has too much power as it is and its easier to make decisions with a small group than with a large group.
1. The Common Core State Standards are a clear set of shared goals and expectations for the knowledge and skills students need in English language arts and mathematics at each grade level.
ReplyDelete2. Common Core apparently crosses all political lines and is restricting teachers' ability to do what they want in their classroom. Instead of guides, the Common Core have become straightjackets.
3. It offered large sums of money for the sates that reformed their education and adopted different benchmarks and standards. i think they are, because nobody in their right mind would turn down that much money.
4. The state of Alabama is against the common core. Based on the information I have found from the websites that I've searched, educators in Alabama combined the two.
5. Bobby Jindal is a republican with presidential ambitions. He was one of the first to accept the Common Core and now he wants out of it. This is definitely politically motivated.
6.I think America's education system is a pathetic excuse, and doesn't even deserve that title. I feel Alabama's state of education could and should be a lot better.
7. There is no black and white answer to this, but in order to please the majority, I feel that it is better to run education at a state level.
Emily Keller
ReplyDelete1) the English and math standards the students should know by the end of the year
2)the have to sever themselves form the cause so it doesn't become so controversial
3) gave states money for educational reforms
4)we have adopted the common core
5) governor of Louisiana
6) I think its good for us to have set standards for school nationally and state wise
7) I think its good o run it at a federal level so all of Americas students are learning the same thing.
Kayla fincher
ReplyDelete1. It's skills in math and english
2. Its controversal so they ingnire it
3.a foundation that funds educational services
4.we support it
5.governer of louisana
6.i suport the education system in the nation and state
7.federal ao we both learn the same thing
Abbye Blocker
ReplyDelete1. Common Core Standards are the English and Math standards which lay out what each student should know by the end of the year.
2. They fear federal intrusion.
3. The Race to the Top program is a government program that gives states the chance to have a chunk of government money if they adopt certain standards.
4. Alabama has adopted the Common Core Standards.
5. Bobby Jindal is the Louisiana State Governor. He was one of the first ones to welcome the standards but has now rejected them. I do not think that this was politically motivated.
6. I think that the state of education in the nation is okay because every one has standards to go by.
7. I think it is better to run the state at a sate level because then we don't have to rely on the entire nation to make decisions.
Leigh Davis:
ReplyDelete1. The Common Core Standards are standards that were made during 2009 as an effort from two different groups and they state what you should know and learn by the end of the year in english and math.
2.The standards are not supported as much anymore because we are taking a stand against them because they think that the standards need to be a more relenting guideline instead of a straightjacket for kids. Basically they think the standards are setting up our education to fail.
3.The program is set up as a sort of thing to see who can learn a lot at a decent pace.Yes, i think that they are trying to manipulate us to use the system without us knowing it's there but i feel that it's not quite working that way.
4.Alabama has adopted the program. The programs both tried to do the same thing, somewhat, but they're ruining the teachers jobs and not giving enough support or communication for the teachers.
5.Bobby Jindal is the governor of Louisiana. His stance used to be him supporting the Common Core Standards but he recently changed over to not supporting them. I believe that he was politically motivated because of how big politics are now in society.
6.The state of education in the nation, I think, is on the lower side and I think that it could be higher than what it is. In Alabama, the state of education is in the middle but I believe we could do better.
7.I think it's better to run education at a state level because there would be more control, but also more freedom and everyone would be somewhat satisfied and everything wouldn't be so stressful or high strung.
Lynsey Simpson:
ReplyDelete1. established benchmarks for reading and math
2. that the government is making common core more of a straight jacket than guidelines and that they're setting up public education for failure
3. the race to the top program is money given to make educational reforms, and yes, because they are using money to bribe people into believing common core is a good thing
4. Alabama agrees with common core and it relates because of all of the new things in common core for the readiness standards
5. Louisiana Governor and he used to be a full supporter of it but now since the new standards have been created he doesn't agree with it. yes it is politically motivated
6. i don't agree with it because they are \making us know too much by the end of the school year, and our state either because we agree with the common core standards.
7. state, because its more personal to the people that are having to participate in school with the common core.
Alec Turner 3rd period
ReplyDelete1.The Common Core State Standards are a clear set of shared goals and expectations for the knowledge and skills students need in English language arts and mathematics at each grade level so they can be prepared to succeed in college, career, and life.
2. I think it's so divided because their is different opinions on How and what our students should be taught and everyone has an opinion about it.
3. It is a program that will give a state $4.35 billion dollars to adopt "internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace."
4. Alabama is mostly Republican I think that we could have an advantage towards the standards.
5. Bobby Jindal is the Governor of Louisiana. He welcomed Common Core with open arms a few years ago and is now completely opposed to it. I think that we should not be taught at the same level. Because of the extra attention some
Students require.
6. I think that our schools put a lot of pressure on us and yes a lot of it is for our benefit in the future but not all.
7. State. I feel it that each state has the freedom to take control of how there students are taught it is not up to the general gov.