Core Standards in Education

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According to corestandards.org, "the college and career-ready standards provide an appendix listing the evidence that was consulted in drafting the standards, including the international standards that were consulted in the development process." Before anything else is mentioned, it is the belief of this writer that aggressive efforts are necessary in the work to reform education and while there are many on the sidelines complaining, the solution is not simple. There is more diversity than ever, with English Language Learners, special needs and other issues skewing a uniform standard education that was offered in years past. The seat-in-your-seats and all do as the teacher leads times are over. Some students not only need that style but thrive on it. However, most do not and with the surge of technology and dozens of different choices and styles of delivery in most communities, it provokes confusion for students, parents and districts, at large. Some small areas, which are remote, may only have one or two options, where cities and suburbs may have many choices for families. The world is competitive now and careers have stiff competition for job openings. For that reason, students will do the best if they find their niche, work hard doing what they find comfortable and great success with. Then complimenting the majority of time working to master their gifts with other content area, for basic insight is likely a useful approach.

Where the new Core Standards give an edge over the old state standards approach falls in the analysis aspect. "The standards set a rigorous definition of college and career readiness not by piling topic upon topic, but by demanding that students develop a depth of understanding and ability to apply mathematics to novel situations, as college students and employees regularly do," suggest the core website. The ability to think outside the box and work with an inquiry-based mindset has value. Those in the ivory tower are headed in the right direction and some small well-groomed circles can easily pull off this work. However, from one that has worked in five states and primarily with failing schools and high-risk populations, this notion could end up being a 'pie in the sky.' The reason is that many of these students have not gleaned the critical ...