The Common Core initiative is generating heated debate bordering on hysteria.
Do the standards:
• Turn students gay?
• Preach an anti-American agenda?
• Enable the Muslim Brotherhood and communists to shape the content?
Laura McKenna, a former political science professor, writes an excellent article about the growing concern suburban parents are up in arms about the new standards in the February 12 issue of The Atlantic. The article is titled: Suburbia and Its Common Core Conspiracy Theories: Why middle-class white parents are up in arms about the new standards.
Check it out.
Then might be appropriate to do a little “critical thinking” about the Common Core Standards for yourself.
Whether you are FOR or AGAINST the proposed standards, do a little thinking about what is being proposed.
Gather the FACTS – think hard about whether or not some talking head/politician is basing his/her position on hard facts and do your own analysis.
Google “pros and cons about the common core standards” and take the time to read some of the many outspoken arguments for and against the standards – then make up your own mind. A few of the better places to check are as follows:
• https://thecommoncore.wordpress.com/common-core-arguments-for-and-against/
• http://teaching.about.com/od/assess/f/What-Are-Some-Pros-And-Cons-Of-The-Common-Core-Standards.htm
• http://www.cwfa.org/common-core/
There are many others – the issue of educational reform is essential, and whatever conclusions you draw should be based on hard evidence and critical thought as opposed to climbing on some hysterical bandwagon – for or against.
~ CCJ