Decent coverage in Norwichs the Evening Sun newspaper on Thursdays forum in Sherburne. evesun/news/stories/2014-03-21/18915/Common-Core-forum-sheds-light-on-education-reform/ SHERBURNE – In a continuing effort to help parents make sense of the Common Core controversy, the Sherburne-Earlville Central School Parent Advocate Group hosted an educational forum Thursday to shed light on the options parents have in New York’s latest attempt at education reform. The forum, held at the S-E High School, featured an expert panel of educators and parents who argued the Common Core is pushing students in the wrong direction. But in spite of state mandated practices in the classroom, parents still have choices when it comes to their childs education, they said, and those options are worth exploring. “We want to help parents understand the dangers of the Common Core and how we feel it is adversely affecting children,” explained Parent Advocate Group spokesperson Julie Bigger. “Our immediate goal is to have people understand that theyre able to refuse these new state tests. The state has been less than forthcoming with information. Were simply tying to clear up the confusion.” Although the mission of the Common Core standards is to make students college and career ready, Bigger says the unintentional implications for parents, teachers and students have proven unfavorable as it hinders individualized instruction for students who learn at a different pace, and ties the hands of teachers who would benefit from altering class lessons. “Standards aren’t new. Weve always had standards,” Bigger added. “But we dont need government to dictate to us what standards should be. Weve always had good teachers and we should put the trust back in those teachers to teach the best way they know how.” To date, 45 states, including New York, have adopted the Common Core in place of state-set standards. The roots of Common Core go back to a 2009 federal stimulus bill that provided funding for the “Race tot he Top” initiative between states. To be eligible for federal funding, each state was required to adopt the Common Core. As an extra incentive, states that adopted the Common Core have also been exempted from many provisions of the preceding “No Child Left Behind Act” that was implemented in 2001. However, theres more to the controversy being hidden in smoke and mirrors, according to Bigger. Thursdays forum touched on a number of clouded issues, including the contentious learning modules (or scripted lesson plans) that are required as part of the Common Core. Other topics included the collection and sharing of student data among public and private entities, the consequences of high-stakes testing, and most importantly, said Bigger, the option for parents to refuse state tests. “Our children take all kinds of standardized assessments, besides the ruling state tests. Our children take pre tests, post tests and benchmarks throughout the year,” explained panelist Danielle Boudet, founding member of Oneonta Area for Public Education. “You can imagine the pressure that just keeps building … Students will spend more time preparing for a test today than at any other time in our nations history.” Boudet argued that state tests are assembled not by educators, but by private corporations that have a stake in public education. In turn, she said students are reduced to nothing more than numbers and data points. “Last year, a huge number of parents refused grades 3-8 state tests on their childs behalf and this year, we again expect record numbers of parents to refuse or opt out,” she said. Refusing a state test is not equivalent to taking a zero, Boudet clarified. And refusal does not affect funding received by the childs school, nor does it bear negative consequences for the teacher. “We are finding that students of every ability are refusing these tests,” she said. “If enough of us take a stand and boycott these tests, the data becomes invalid and the tests themselves will carry little meaning. They wont drive education like they were before. They might even go away if enough of us refuse.” Panelist Ken Sider, an elementary school teacher at the Oneonta City School District, said while testing warrants discussion, the use of teaching modules – which are partially created by corporate delegates – ushers in another host of concerns. “Contexts of study and teaching methods are determined by the module and teachers have no authority to change the content or procedures,” he said, citing strict guidelines to be followed by teachers in the classroom. “Modules prevent the teacher from shaping the learning environment to ways that are responsive to childrens interest, passions and most importantly, their needs.” “Children are frustrated, and some to tears, while others act out,” Sider added. With pending implementation of science and social studies standards to be added to the already existing math and ELA standards in the Common Core, he said the situation is only bound to get worse. “This means your childs entire school day will be scripted.” The Sherburne-Earlville Parent Advocate Group is reaching out to parents, students and community members via Facebook to keep them updated on changes and requirements related to the Common Core. More information can be found on the group’s page, facebook/secsparentsvscc.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 15:45:12 +0000
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