Heres the flip side: Dear Frustrated Parent, Extensive training and conditioning in pursuit of a bachelor of science degree in a K-16 school system has resulted in the real world simplification methodology of solving problems without critically analyzing the work of others. Being engrained with pragmatic solutions to old world problems does not produce higher level thinking needed to fix the issues our generation has produced. I too would solve the problem in the way you have described, but I am a product of the very system that has exploited resources and people, disregarded the autistic mind which couldve produced a revolution in science, and isolated individuals in school to such a degree that it results in violent behavior because they think differently than the systems simple solution. Enabling children to think beyond the neat and uncomplicated box by challenging them to explore the thinking of others is a ongoing process of creating a nation of empathetic innovators. There are problems that cannot be fixed in 5 seconds, which require thinking that initially might have been terminated because it was not efficient at getting a correct answer. So, simply, the termination of Common Core based on complicating a problem for a student is regression. Because the real world problems are complicated, especially when differently minded people are thinking about it, and we need minds that are not limited by brains fettered by old school thought. Brains that are not limited by the way that I was taught, because the way that I was taught has resulted in preserving a failing system that this reform could change. The challenge is to not put our children in the box of our own ignorance, but instead give them tools to build a brand new box to organize the world, a world that will be their world. Thanks, Nicholas Anthony Former Teacher, Teacher Educator, Educational Researcher, and Parent PS: The assignment in question is designed to help Jack with his thinking, as though Jack were another student in the class that thinks in this way. Common Core is based on addressing common student misconceptions, so it makes sense that a student, like Jack, may need help refining his thinking that he handles with number lines. In your conclusion you state that the process is ridiculous and would result in termination if used. I understand that your intent is a critique on Common Core, but your response tells Jack that his process for solving the problem not only results in an incorrect answer but is a ridiculous way to solve it. Further more, his thinking should be terminated. This is exactly what we have done in school in the past to children that think differently and struggle with the simple solution. We have responded, You are wrong. The way you did it is ridiculous. This is how you should solve the problem because this is how we, your parents think. This perpetuates stifling ignorance and intolerance of novel thinking, the worst burdens we can lay upon our children.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 12:16:44 +0000
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