I missed this NYT editorial from a few days ago on the Common Core, which the editorial calls "clearly the most important education reform in the country’s history." That may be debatable, but what comes next is mostly just outright falsehood.
"The Common Core standards were the product of a heavily researched, bipartisan effort pioneered by the National Governors Association in collaboration with the Council of Chief State School Officers. The effort arose from a broad recognition that the United States was losing ground to many of its competitors abroad because the learning standards as applied in most states were pathetically weak."
The parts I've bolded are, I believe, simply false. The Common Core is, as far as I can tell by reading its own literature, very thinly researched. Also, the US is not losing ground to its competitors, and it is far from clear that student achievement has anything to do with "learning standards."
US Places consistently below the top 10 internationally based on student standards of education.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_student_performance
"Losing ground" implies that the US is falling behind. It is not.
DeleteTo the extent that US scores are lower than some other countries, that is largely a result of poverty (for low-poverty schools, the scores your link refers to are excellent). US places consistently near the bottom of developed countries in child poverty.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/04/15/map-how-35-countries-compare-on-child-poverty-the-u-s-is-ranked-34th/
I'm so glad you wrote this. I read that editorial and was just speechless. Thanks for finding the words!
ReplyDeleteMary