We keep hearing opponents talk about how bad the Common Core is, yet we hear very little specificity about exactly what's bad about it. We educators really struggle to understand what the fuss is about. The claims we hear are so far fetched, it's hard to take them seriously. They simply aren't true.
In Alabama, we just included the Common Core standards in our Math and English courses of study. That's it. Nothing more. That being said, let's address some of the "common" concerns we hear...
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Common Core nationalizes public education.
This is an easy one, so let me be clear. NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS ARE NOT NEW. National math, science, English, and history standards have been around, long before the Common Core. Alabama and other states have always aligned to those standards. Do people think Alabama arbitrarily decided when to teach what, without consulting other states' and national standards? And let me remind everyone, physicians, attorneys, hospitals, etc. have "national standards" too, and that's considered a good thing.
All this being said, Alabama volunteered to include these Common Core standards, after several years of research and collaboration with education leaders and stakeholders. Our schools haven't received a penny for doing so. While we did include these standards, we may also add to them, edit them, and move them around (see recent CCRS updates). We choose how to implement them and how to assess them, not the federal government.
Common Core "dumbs" down education.
Seriously? Have opponents read the 2010 Math and English Language Arts College and Career Ready Standards? No one can read them and not plainly see that they are far more rigorous and reflective of 21st Century learning than the previous from 2003 (Math) and 2007 (English). My question for them is, "Demonstrate how these standards 'dumb down' education?" Show me.
Furthermore, we teachers have dedicated our lives to improving children's education in Alabama. Do people think for one second we would support standards that lowered our expectations? For heaven's sake, trust us.
ARI (Alabama Reading Initiative) and AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative)
are defunct.
We educators have been mystified about the newest anti-CCRS claim that ARI and AMSTI have been defunct this year. We know full well these programs haven't slowed a bit, and if anything, have increased momentum, thanks to the new math and English standards. Both ARI and AMSTI (in addition to their traditional roles) have helped our schools use their research-based best practices (the same ones they've been sharing) to address the new math and English standards. I addressed this concern more fully in another post.
Common Core will indoctrinate our students with liberal, anti-American, and anti-Christian ideals.
Once again, show me where this is evident in our standards. It's just math and English, much like we've always had.
My students used to memorize 1 Corinthians 13 ("Love is Patient, Love is Kind...") in my classroom every year, as it tied in nicely with our novel unit. Was I indoctrinating my students to become Christians, like me? Of course not. I was having them memorize a powerful "life" verse that corresponded beautifully with the text. Fifteen years later, I still run into students who begin reciting this verse and other poetry I had them memorize. I also taught American History, where we discussed racism, women's rights, social justice, Communism....all the things kids should know about before going to college. Was I indoctrinating them then? No...I was TEACHING them about history. I say all this because at any time, I suppose a parent could have swayed my instruction to infer "indoctrination."
What people must understand, and everyone else, IF some rogue teacher has an agenda to turn our children into socialists or homosexuals (as opponents claim), the Common Core or any course of study has NOTHING to do with that. When that classroom door is closed, a teacher can teach whatever he/she wants. That's why we have mentors, principals, and district leaders to make sure we have the best teachers in our schools, and beyond that, parents must trust us, as they would their pastors, physicians, and other professionals.
I recently read some Twitter posts, claiming that "Common Core" texts call Afghan fighters "freedom fighters." First, why aren't they sharing the name of the text (does it really exist?). Secondly, and this is important, President Ronald Reagan called them "freedom fighters" in the 1980s, long before 911 (see video). So...if it's an old text or it's referring to that era, the term "freedom fighters" was likely used. I taught American History for years. I know what I'm talking about.
And finally, there are NO TEXTS or LESSON PLANS provided in our CCRS. The local schools get to make that determination. Teachers will still create their own syllabi, with no interference from the state or federal government. Teachers, administrators, parents, and other stakeholders serve on Textbook Committees for new adoptions, so unless they approve "un-American" system-wide texts, it's not going to happen in this state.
Common Core removes classic literature from our English classes.
I taught To Kill A Mockingbird, a Southern classic, for years. I recently read an anti-Common Core post, claiming this novel perpetuated "rape" and "social justice." And then in the very next post, a parent was complaining that her child may never read To Kill A Mockingbird because of the informational text requirements. Ridiculous, right?
The content literacy standards are one of the things I like most about the CCRS. For the first time in Alabama, we are requiring our science, history, and Career Tech teachers to embed reading and writing into their curricula (however they choose), which is something good teachers have always done. The informational text requirement is shared with all content areas, not just English teachers, meaning NO CLASSIC LIT will ever be removed to satisfy these requirements. Take away Romeo and Juliet from a 9th grade English teacher...see what happens. See my Content Literacy Webpage for resources and sample lessons.
Common Core is a curriculum.
Common Core is not a curriculum or "program" in our state. As I mentioned earlier, we still decide when, what, and how to teach. Alabama ONLY added those standards to our own. We can change them any time we want. As a matter of fact, the SDE has already made changes to both math and English documents, disproving the myth that we cannot alter them.
For our non-teacher readers, let me briefly explain the difference between a course of study and a curriculum. In our English Language Arts CCRS (Grade 6), a standard reads, "Differentiate among odes, ballads, epic poetry, and science fiction." The teacher decides which ballads, odes, poetry, and science fiction pieces to read. He or she decides when and how to teach that standard, as well as how to access it. The elements in blue make up the curriculum. See a sample syllabus.
Common Core means more assessments.
I can only speak for Alabama on this one. We are not a Race to the Top state, so Alabama has the freedom to assess how they choose (which in my opinion, is a good thing). Long before the Common Core, Dr. Bice (not yet the state superintendent) spoke at a teacher conference I attended. In it, he mentioned his vision for Alabama, where students could take the ACT in high school as part of their state assessment. He further discussed plans for 3rd-8th grade assessments. His words were music to our ears. Finally - assessments that made sense!
Most Race to the Top states utilize the PARCC or Smarter Balance assessments for students. Alabama did not. Instead, we chose to use the ACT suite for grades 8-12 and the ASPIRE for grades 3-8. Alabama is the first state in the country to use ASPIRE. ASPIRE fully aligns with our math and English courses of study, meaning we're actually being assessed on what we taught. As for the ACT suite for upper grades, every 11th grader in the state will take the ACT plus Writing...for free. Do people understand how many students will now receive college scholarships as a result? I know many stellar students who did not take the ACT because of the cost or because they "never got around to it." These students did not attend college, and that haunts me to this day. I am certain they would have received partial or full scholarships, based on their ACT scores. That will not happen again, thanks to Dr. Bice.
Common Core invades our children's privacy.
Another easy one. First, Alabama schools follow FERPA to the letter of the law. We value our students' and parents' privacy, almost as much as they do.
Since the beginning of public education, schools have shared data within the school, district, and/or state (absences, grades, assessments, discipline referals, etc.). That will never change. Our test scores are a measure of our success, whether we like it or not. I agree, there are other ways to do so, but for now, that's the way it's always been.
Common Core reduces public schools' transparency.
Since the inception of the Internet, our public schools have been more transparent than ever. Schools have living, breathing websites that are updated daily. In addition to a robust website, my system (and many others) have Twitter and Facebook pages. We even post best CCRS practices (along with the actual standard addressed). We send text alerts, emails, and phone calls on a regular basis. If stakeholders don't know what's happening in our schools, they aren't listening or looking.
As for the CCRS, those public drafts were posted on the Alabama State Department of Education website for months. Dr. Bice led many regional meetings, where parents and stakeholders were asked for input.
Since the inception of the Internet, our public schools have been more transparent than ever. Schools have living, breathing websites that are updated daily. In addition to a robust website, my system (and many others) have Twitter and Facebook pages. We even post best CCRS practices (along with the actual standard addressed). We send text alerts, emails, and phone calls on a regular basis. If stakeholders don't know what's happening in our schools, they aren't listening or looking.
As for the CCRS, those public drafts were posted on the Alabama State Department of Education website for months. Dr. Bice led many regional meetings, where parents and stakeholders were asked for input.
If there is another concern or claim you'd like me to address, just shoot me an email, and I'll be glad to oblige: melisssa_shields@ecboe.org
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