As the School Board of Elections approaches and I roam the various South Orange, Maplewood message boards, I came across a few places where folks state they are not clear on the BOE candidates positions. So of course I started roaming the BOE candidates websites. I have to say one issue jumped out at me.
The issue was where the candidates stood on Common Core Standads and how it is to be implemented. Well unlike some, I can't claim to be a guru on Common Core Standards so I researched it. From the Common Core Standards website, http://www.corestandards.org it states the following:
What is the Common Core State Standards Initiative?
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics that states voluntarily adopt. The standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to enter credit bearing entry courses in two or four year college programs or enter the workforce. The standards are clear and concise to ensure that parents, teachers, and students have a clear understanding of the expectations in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language and mathematics in school.Ideals of Common Core versus Reality
Now on the surface I am all for standardization and ensuring we all know what to expect. However in listening to the candidates position, I have a problem with what I heard the candidates state in the forum.Statements such as :
" the test scores will drop as they have a cross the state the first year its implemented. "
" I think we will see a drop in test scores and have to engage the community about that"
You can listen to the attached video to hear the actual statments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrTral9P2NE
Problem with Common Core Implementation
Reading those statements makes me know that as the Common Core Standards are being implemented, children going through our school system during the adjustment will have lower scores. I hear that as my kids being affected negatively during their school years. Having worked in major corporations for many years and having implemented common standards in any situation usually means someone suffers.Now I don't know about you, but I would not want my children being part of a training program that ensures they know less while the district and the county comes up to speed with the new standards. just so we can make everyone else equal. Something sounds wrong with the statements about kids test scores dropping and I for one would go crazy if someone tells me that's gotta be the case just because we ar implementing standards.
So What's the Plan for Implementation?
Somebody would have to tell me what's the plan to ensure my child stays equal to or above the nation's standards. I really don't want my kids scores to drop while we implement the Common Core. The only one who talked past the basic issue was Johanna Wright.
After reading all the candidates positions, I would have to vote Wright for a BOE position, on this issue alone, because there is no way I want my children to learn less not more. As Wright said" I want more for the kids." Don't you?
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