Education Reform vs. Common Core If you have children or are involved at all in the nations educational system, no doubt you have heard about Common Core. For those of you who dont know it is a new method of measuring the academic progress of students. Many folks are upset about the new standards because they place very little emphasis on the student and the way they learn. Educators are upset because it negates decades of teacher experience in an attempt to fit all students inside of a check box on a form. Additionally, the standards were coerced into the states with the stipulation that if they dont adopt these new standards, their existing federal assistance would be pulled. Most states had no options and no recourse, and were forced to capitulate. For the last 60 years, nearly all of the U.S. Presidents have promised some sort of educational reform. We have been falling behind the rest of the world in various areas of academics, and as a result, we are less competitive in the global economy. While some teachers are not effective, the good majority of them are quite effective at their profession, and common core marginalizes their importance in the classroom. Decades of educational reform have not improved performance on standardized tests, and America is continuing to fall further and further behind the rest of the world. The problem, I see is that we are barking up the wrong tree. The problem is not a testing problem, a learning problem, or even a teaching problem, but a cultural one. Cultural problems cannot be solved by legislating a new way to teach or by altering standards required to pass a test. It must change with the importance we, as a society, place on education. Lets take Japan for example. Children in Japan are taught from a young age that poor performance on academic exams will bring shame to the entire family. As a result, Japanese children are more motivated to perform well. While I do not advocate placing this level of burden on our children, the cultural foundation of the importance if education is well-ingrained in the Japanese culture. Why might our culture have devolved to the lows we see today? Perhaps it is because we lack the proper incentive. Decades of doing the minimum has taught our children that they dont need to try that hard to get by, and that just getting by is the most important thing they can do. This shift in our culture didnt occur overnight. The early immigrants to this country (and even the recent ones) were driven and determined to succeed at any cost. Whether this be in business, in school, or in arts, in order to be successful one must be determined. We must instill in our children the values of always providing their best effort, and recognize them for their accomplishments -- not just as a parent or as a teacher, but as a society. While not everyone can or will be an Einstein, Mozart, or Van Gough, most children can be successful if they: 1) recognize the value that comes with success in education 2) devalue those that have obtained status by their own stupidity Television, the internet, and popular culture are much to blame for this dumbing down of America. Fifty years ago, on what planet would someone have to be on in order to idolize such a dimwit as Kim Kardashian? Since when did all professional athletes become role models? Or when did risking your life make you famous? The media is partly to blame here, highlighting everyones faults on a national stage, repeated ad-nauseum until we can no longer recognize the difference between the successful and the stupid. Fame has become the measuring stick of success, and honestly, I wouldnt give most famous people the time of day. Fame does not guarantee success in life, and we should make sure our children are aware of that cold hard fact. It may be desirable to be famous, but if you are famous for being an idiot, does that make you a success? P.S. I wrote this to provide some food for thought. I am expressing my OPINION. Rather than criticizing my ideas, look internally and find what motivates you to do well. What could you do to motivate others to place higher values on education at home, at school, and in society? If you have something constructive to add, please post it. If you merely want to poke holes in my argument, please feel free NOT to comment.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:05:19 +0000
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