I read the article, “Eight Problems with Common Core Standards.” It wasn’t extremely long, but I was able to get some good information from it. The “core” is a responsibility for teachers to teach subjects such as math, science, language arts, and social studies. These could divided up are called the “core.”
The problems within this “core” vary. The first problem I notice is where the article points out that standards shouldn’t be attached to school subjects, but to the qualities of mind it’s hoped the study of school subject it promotes. I don’t believe that all standards should be the same. Not everyone learns at the same level. Just because one school may have certain standards, it doesn’t mean another school does.
Another problem is that the Common Core Standards are a set-up for national standardized tests, tests that can’t evaluate complex thought, can’t avoid cultural bias, can’t measure non-verbal learning, and can’t predict anything of consequence. I pointed some of these things out in my week 5 assignment. This is the problem with standardized tests. There are too many flaws, and they can become very misleading.
Probably my biggest problem with the “core’ is that America tests every kid – the mentally disabled, the sick, the hungry, the homeless, the transient, the troubled, and those for whom English is a second language. This would normally not bother me, but they lump those scores together with students who have no disabilities. I don’t think it’s an accurate test if some students aren’t on the same educational level as others. You might as well give someone in first grade a test made for eighth graders. That’s what you’re dealing with sometimes when you test students with mental disabilities.
Hi Erin! I agree with your viewpoint on standardized test. I believe that they do not show a student's true learning capabilities. I think that students often shut down because they are tested too much. If this is the case, then obviously the results of those tests are not valid.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the scoring of standardized tests as well. It frustrates me I hear statistics compared to other countries and realize they are only testing the students who made it into high school. Where I was at in Mexico if a student had a disability it was up to the family to provide education for them. They were no longer a part of the class if they weren't able to keep up. By not including these students test scores it would change their score results quite a bit.
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