America has come a long way from the days of the one room schoolhouse. Back then, the teacher was given the authority and responsibility for teaching students of all ages. Reading, writing and arithmetic were the order of the day, designed to prepare young minds to go out into a rough and tumble world. Innovating with limited tools was required and discipline was strict, but preparation was not just expected but required and students quickly realized that the schoolhouse was for business. And they might not become doctors and lawyers, but they did learn sufficiently to handle all of life's problems in a largely agrarian world and successfully operate a farm or a general store or whatever was needed to make life work for them.
Fast forward to today. We've spent billions on education, pouring money into fancy school plants, expensive computers and impressive media centers where, despite all of the spending, we have failed many of our children. This, of course, is to a large degree a huge issue in poverty stricken inner cities, but the problem also is found in all school systems, rich and poor; downtown, uptown and suburban as well as in small towns and rural areas. The problem is that our elites have decided that one size basically fits all and a curriculum which is major in its changes is heavily dumped on the younger students, the K through 3rd grade set, where their young and developing minds are having problems even coping with it. The program wasn't sufficiently tested, was primarily developed by a small band of people of dubious expertise to the matter at hand, and then laid out secretly after gaining political support.
Tuesday night on North Florida Writer Live I was fortunate to have as a guest Meg Norris, a teacher turned Opt Out of Common Core activist, to explain what is happening to our children. Meg taught seventh grade in Georgia, spent a year and a half trying to grapple in the classroom with the Common Core curriculum, and ultimately decided that she could do it no more. She noticed psychological and heavy stress problems develop in her students, students that had previously been doing well, and decided that she had to devote her time to trying to undo this program which has gained much acceptance, but for which a rising opposition in building.
I could write an epistle about what she talked about but instead I would prefer that you listen to the interview itself which is on demand on blogtalkradio.com. Reach your own conclusion. Parents and anyone concerned about the education of our children should pay attention. After all, we are all paying for it with huge tax bills that it brings and, as is usual today, select large private corporation with lobbying ties to our elected officials in both parties are the recipients of the largesse.
You know, folks, life and living it is what we humans are all about. And nothing should be more important than to properly prepare our young people for the world ahead of them, a world which should afford those who work hard with an opportunity to compete for anything. Instead, however, I fear what we are doing is just categorizing the huge majority of our kids into pre-planned segments which the power elites deem best.
Here's the link to the show, it is available 24/7. You may have to copy it into your browser.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/northfloridawriterlive/2015/05/27/the-impact-of-common-core-on-our-kis
I plan to have another interview with Meg and some other activists, hopefully including some in Florida, within the next two weeks. There is a lot more information that I think we all need to hear. She is a brave woman, willing to take on the Establishment for a cause that is of the highest order--preparing our children for life. I hope you will find the interview of value. Let's make education about the children, not about politicians and lobbyists. Our future depends on it.
Fast forward to today. We've spent billions on education, pouring money into fancy school plants, expensive computers and impressive media centers where, despite all of the spending, we have failed many of our children. This, of course, is to a large degree a huge issue in poverty stricken inner cities, but the problem also is found in all school systems, rich and poor; downtown, uptown and suburban as well as in small towns and rural areas. The problem is that our elites have decided that one size basically fits all and a curriculum which is major in its changes is heavily dumped on the younger students, the K through 3rd grade set, where their young and developing minds are having problems even coping with it. The program wasn't sufficiently tested, was primarily developed by a small band of people of dubious expertise to the matter at hand, and then laid out secretly after gaining political support.
Tuesday night on North Florida Writer Live I was fortunate to have as a guest Meg Norris, a teacher turned Opt Out of Common Core activist, to explain what is happening to our children. Meg taught seventh grade in Georgia, spent a year and a half trying to grapple in the classroom with the Common Core curriculum, and ultimately decided that she could do it no more. She noticed psychological and heavy stress problems develop in her students, students that had previously been doing well, and decided that she had to devote her time to trying to undo this program which has gained much acceptance, but for which a rising opposition in building.
I could write an epistle about what she talked about but instead I would prefer that you listen to the interview itself which is on demand on blogtalkradio.com. Reach your own conclusion. Parents and anyone concerned about the education of our children should pay attention. After all, we are all paying for it with huge tax bills that it brings and, as is usual today, select large private corporation with lobbying ties to our elected officials in both parties are the recipients of the largesse.
You know, folks, life and living it is what we humans are all about. And nothing should be more important than to properly prepare our young people for the world ahead of them, a world which should afford those who work hard with an opportunity to compete for anything. Instead, however, I fear what we are doing is just categorizing the huge majority of our kids into pre-planned segments which the power elites deem best.
Here's the link to the show, it is available 24/7. You may have to copy it into your browser.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/northfloridawriterlive/2015/05/27/the-impact-of-common-core-on-our-kis
I plan to have another interview with Meg and some other activists, hopefully including some in Florida, within the next two weeks. There is a lot more information that I think we all need to hear. She is a brave woman, willing to take on the Establishment for a cause that is of the highest order--preparing our children for life. I hope you will find the interview of value. Let's make education about the children, not about politicians and lobbyists. Our future depends on it.
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