The High School System Has Such High Expectations For Test Scores

Zan Crowder and Stephanie Konle claim that programs like Common Core and the No Child Left Behind Act have been instilled throughout 95% of schools in America (286). This allows students in the United States to learn and understand basic academic concepts the same way. However, this leaves little to no room for teachers to instruct students in public schools their own unique way. Instead, they are given set criteria and material that the students have to meet and understand. Crowder and Konle also agree that one of the many downsides to Common Core is that it influences students to memorize answers for tests instead of actually learn academic material (285). Common Core and the No Child Left Behind Act paves the way for students to achieve higher scores on standardized tests because students, for the most part, are taught the exact same things in schools across

Not only are those two words awful for any student to hear but it has two incredibly enormous issues, which are the flaws of Common Core’s teaching style and the endless stream of constant testing. Common Core’s education style is so incredibly flawed that it is extremely surprising that it has been accepted throughout the United States. Countless numbers of parents have a difficult time with Common Core because nearly everything is being taught in a completely new fashion that they have never learned making in difficult if not impossible for them to help out. In addition to this thoroughly flawed teaching style, the continuous testing of students is just as bad, if not worse, than the teaching style. According to a study performed by the Council of the Great City Schools found that “students take an average of 113 standardized tests between pre-K and 12th grade” (Hefling) which accounts for 15 percent of the school year. Not only is that an extremely high percentage but that does not include Advanced Placement exams, career and technical education courses, or college entrance exams. Not only is this a ridiculous amount of testing but these tests effect much more than the rest of the students’ lives but it also effects the livelihoods’ of their teachers. During a school board meeting in Florida on March 24, 2015, Luke Flint, a teacher at the school, said the

The Common Core State Standards also has a focus on testing Language Arts and Mathematics, but it does try to branch out into other subjects, like Science. There is still a heavy dependence on standardized tests in this new system and it will take some time for everyone to adjust to these new standards. With the Common Core State Standards, there is also a set of guidelines for the curriculum and a focus on making sure the students have mastered the specific guidelines provided. The problem with the Common Core State Standards is there is still a heavy focus on testing for Language Arts and Mathematics while deemphasizing other subjects, even if there is a Common Core for Science or Social Studies. Teachers are forced to teach to the standards provided and might not be able to individualize their lessons to the needs of their students. This can lead to more teachers being forced to teach to the test and continue the problems that occurred with No Child Left Behind, where students were leaning how to take the tests and not learn the knowledge they need to move on to either college or a career.

There are many opinions to whether the Common Core should be enforced across the United States. One of the most wildly accepted views is that even though the Common Core could be a good idea, it is unnecessary, that America has done just fine without it. The Common Core is not working how it should and schools should go back to the way it was before. Many professors and researchers agree that the Common Core does not work and might even be hurting the youth of America. Parents who disagree with the Common Core have started pulling their children out of public school resulting in national education to be even less standardized, which is the opposite affect than what the Common Core was meant for. It is also not preparing students for future

Prior to writing this response paper, I had no pre-existing knowledge revolving around Common Core other than the negative ideas and opinions I’ve only vaguely heard, often including photos of honestly outrageous equations. What exactly is Common Core, according to them, and what is the goal? By definition, the Common Core State Standards Initiative details a list of subjects for students kindergarten through twelfth grade to have learned the by the end of each specific grade. The ultimate goal is to be certain that students across all of the states receive the same education and reach the same requirements in order to be prepared for college work; or, rather, the standardized tests that will determine whether or not they are even granted access into college in the first place.

Common Core is built as an infective for education to all schools, but what it is, is a policy that all students learn the same. Common Core has been adopted in forty-three states around the nation. Common Core is designed to get students ready for college and career ready from grades Kindergarten through twelfth grade. “The basic definition of what Common Core is, a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy.” (Board)“The college- and career-readiness standards were developed first and then incoporated into the K-12 standards in the final cersion of the Common Core we have today.” (Practices) The construction of Common Core was by seeing which state standards were already the best, using experienced teachers, leading-thinkers, content experts, and also public feedback about their child’s education. Common Core is currently being endorsed by the White House. “Common Core is currently costing the United States eighty billion dollars.” (Board) Common Core was created by state educational chiefs and governors from forty-eight states. Common Core states that it will get students ready for their futures, but has only hurt them by not truly completing the goals set. Common Core is developmentally inappropriate for students because the cost of Common Core, it is pushed by the government for competition between states, and the strong implantation of standardized testing.

“The Common Core: A Disaster for Libraries, A Disaster for Language Arts, A Disaster for American Education,” was written by Stephen Krashen and taken from Knowledge Quest January/February 2014 issue. Stephen Krashen is professor emeritus, University of Southern California. Krashen points out that the Common Core State Standards, or CCSS, is not relevant for students. He states there are other issues that should be addressed, such as food insecurity or lack of health care, before we put more finances into strict testing and more advanced technology. His thesis is that American Education is missing the real problems affecting education and that the Common Core will continue to turn schools into testing centers.

Now, with the recent implementation of the Common Core Program, more pressure has fallen on teachers to follow the guidelines with exactness. “Today, teachers are being forced to follow a script. They teach to the tests and fear job loss if they don’t see the expected results. The result of this test giving, job loss fearing style of teaching, is written all over the faces of the little kids caught in the transition” (Hurley). This new and improved “script” holds

Like No Child Left Behind, Common Core is shaping up to be a failure that only causes resentment but hinders the learning experience. If you look beyond the standards that are praised by supporters of Common Core it seems that there is little benefit to the students, however, major reward and prestige is given to the textbook and testing companies. In addition for schools to receive funding they must accept the methodology of Common Core and change their systems. This coercive method of forcing schools to enact the system proves the negative perceptions and adverse effects of Common Core. “The program is incentivized with federal grant money that is given to states that implement the standards,” (Business

Common Core Standardized testing has been a controversial topic since its beginning. People tend to either love it or hate it, and there seems to be no in between. Common Core has brought added stress to teenagers' already stressful lives and shows no improvement in how students learn. However, there are still people who idealize it and believe it will raise their level of education.

Ultimately, Common Core is not the education our children need. Students need a mixed curriculum of learning, with the intention that they will recognize what their passions are, and not just how well educated they are in general subjects. Having knowledge in these subjects are extremely important, however only emphasizing on certain subjects narrows the child’s ability to learn more. The Common Core standards prevent students from that excessive knowledge they would have, and only focuses on how well they can think on a test. Despite the elaborate plan Common Core presents to raise the educational standards in our nation, these same standards will diminish the student’s individualism, as well as inflict stress and anxiety on the child’s

Common core has become the new standard in which schools need to find some way to implement this change successfully. Schools must defend this challenge and make it easier and helpful to themselves, teachers, and parents. I believe between politicians and school legislatures need to take accountability and create a structured and adaptable solution to expanding the minds to our students

Common Core State Standards Initiative caught parents and teachers off guard alike. Not many truly understand that concerns, consequences, and underlying issues that surround Common Core. It wasn’t until children were venting their concerns, teachers were frustrated with the statistics undermining their duties, and parents questioning Common Core’s teaching practices – that Common Core was put under the spotlight. An educational reconstruction sponsored by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers sought out to establish a unified education standard that would detail what K-12 students were to know in English and Math alike. Common Core’s mission is to

The Common Core raises some concerns within parents and some curious on lookers that took the time to truly examine the standards. One issue some districts have had with the common core is interpreting the standards to fit a majority of their teaching. In Michigan nine schools interpreted the standards in a wide variety of ways. Some understood the standards in a way that is saying that they had to make some significant changes in the instructions they make, while others understood it a way that they had to make only a few changes. Another complication is the cost of implementation of the standards, which is highly expensive. This a particular challenge especially when most states and school budgets are low. Within the common core there is a thought at which they just believe that if a student is college ready then they are career-ready. The common core state standards are seen as promise, not a guarantee that students will get accepted to any college (Welner). An additional concern is that the standards require principals and teachers to approach their jobs differently and preparations must be increased so it exerts a new professionalism. It is not proven that colleges have said that if students master these standards that they will get into the schools, to a few many this is seen as problematic because the standards were created to prepare students for

The Common Core debate has been discussed through the years through policy makers, politicians, and even TV talk show hosts on whether or not it will hurt or help a child’s education. It has been shown in data taken by others on this issue that people have much anxiety and unanswered questions. Some questions that come up are How do we train the teacher? as well as How do we help students handle the new content? Despite how people feel about the common core curriculum. I believe ultimately this idea is good for students and the education. There are three reasons why common core is a good idea.