continue at MilCathHeraldThere are certain topics which emerge as “hot button” issues. The very mention of these topics trigger all sorts of responses – some measured and some over the top.
Recently, the term “Common Core” has become just such a “hot button” issue. Responses range from intellectual vigilance to emotional anger.
Common Core is a set of educational standards for K-12 that 45 states have adopted to craft their curriculum.
“The standards are an extension of a prior initiative led by CCSSO (Council of Chief School Officers) and NGA (National Governors Association) to develop College and Career Readiness (CCR) standards in reading, writing, speaking, listening and language as well as in mathematics. The CCR Reading, Writing, and Speaking and Listening Standards, released in a draft form in September 2009, serve in revised form, as the backbone for the present document. Grade specific K-12 standards in reading, writing, speaking, listening and language translate the broad (and, for the earliest grades, seemingly distant) arms of the CCR standards into age and attainment appropriate terms.”
As you can read in the definition, every aspect of education is affected K-12. Therefore, parents should be rightfully attentive.
There have always been standards that in some way are measurable. We rely on the expertise of our teachers to grade papers A B C D F or percentages 100 percent or 69 percent or, in the early years, “gold stars.” I remember my gold stars, although there were too few.
Our high school students fret over the ACTs or SATs. Our Catholic grade schools are subjected to national testing. It would be inconceivable, as well as unfair, to not know the standards area or areas of testing or the materials that would be used in the evaluations.
We live in a demanding world where competition is fierce. So, as archbishop, I am concerned that we provide the best Catholic education possible, in an environment that is compatible with learning and that our students are not in any way placed at a disadvantage in their competition with fellow students from the public schools.
I disagree with the premise. The concern is over the quality of education. I'm not sure why he went for a low blow on this. I think the intention of the article is to basically back his superintendent, but to say that those who oppose Common Core are backwoods hicks who hate government is disingenuous to say the least. If Common Core mandated the study of the great books and philosophy, does he really think the same people would object?
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6 comments:
"to say that those who oppose Common Core are backwoods hicks who hate government is disingenuous" I don't know.
Hmm. A basic mistrust of the same authority that wrought the HHS mandate. A question for his excellency, is this mistrust misguided?
That's exactly what I was going to say. What's wrong with mistrusting the same entity that brought us Obamacare by lying about it, HHS mandate, Benghazi, Roe vs Wade, Gay marriage, a politically targeted IRS, as well as the many other things throughout history.
To be frank, I think a mistrust of government is not only healthy but necessary. It really seems like he's just trying to stir up trouble with these comments.
This is sad coming from the Archbishop. If this is his stance, I wonder why he didn't say the same thing in response to the HHS mandate.
Perhaps the Archbishop is too busy with bankruptcy-lawyering to remember that Catholic schools were founded PRECISELY to keep Catholic children from Government Schools.
This is unfortunate. The end result will be good Catholic parents and benefactors founding independent classical Catholic schools. Considering the state of some parish Catholic schools, it might be a blessing in disguise.
I thought the exact same thing.
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