The Common Core State Standards Common Core State Standards must be repealed from state law, partly must be repealed from state law, partly because parents and educators had no because parents and educators had no input into how they were formulated, input into how they were formulated, former state Secretary of Education former state Secretary of Education Linda Murphy told the Tulsa Republican Linda Murphy told the Tulsa Republican Mens Club Wednesday. Mens Club Wednesday. She and Sam Stone, campaign manager She and Sam Stone, campaign manager for State Superintendent Janet Barresi, for State Superintendent Janet Barresi, argued separate sides of the issue at the argued separate sides of the issue at the monthly luncheon. monthly luncheon. Common Core doesnt tell you anything Common Core doesnt tell you anything about how youre supposed to teach a about how youre supposed to teach a subject. You have to teach to the subject. You have to teach to the standards, but a teacher can still decide standards, but a teacher can still decide how to teach, Stone said. how to teach, Stone said. Barresis primary objective in Barresis primary objective in implementing Common Core is making implementing Common Core is making sure it works for Oklahoma and sure it works for Oklahoma and according to Oklahoma values, he said. according to Oklahoma values, he said. Common Core standards for English/Common Core standards for English/language arts and math, which take language arts and math, which take effect in Oklahoma in the 2014-15 effect in Oklahoma in the 2014-15 school year, were designed to be more school year, were designed to be more challenging and to improve students challenging and to improve students critical thinking. critical thinking. But Murphy said the sole purpose of the But Murphy said the sole purpose of the standards is to meet the needs of the standards is to meet the needs of the business community. business community. Education is more than training for a Education is more than training for a job or solving the needs of job or solving the needs of corporations, she said. corporations, she said. Murphy said she supports legislation Murphy said she supports legislation introduced by Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-introduced by Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Laverne, that would eliminate the Laverne, that would eliminate the standards. standards. Proponents say the aim of the Common Proponents say the aim of the Common Core standards is to provide curriculum Core standards is to provide curriculum standards that are consistent standards that are consistent throughout the country and ensure that throughout the country and ensure that all children get a more rigorous all children get a more rigorous education. education. Detractors say the standards are an Detractors say the standards are an intrusion by the federal government into intrusion by the federal government into local control of schools and that it will local control of schools and that it will lead to increased standardized testing. lead to increased standardized testing. Murphy said she has never said she Murphy said she has never said she believes the standards came from the believes the standards came from the federal government, but that it does federal government, but that it does have its tentacles in it. have its tentacles in it. Stone said there is a lot of Stone said there is a lot of misinformation swirling about the misinformation swirling about the Common Core. Common Core. It basically stopped being Common It basically stopped being Common Core when we pulled out of PARCC, he Core when we pulled out of PARCC, he said. said. The Partnership for Assessment of The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers is an Readiness for College and Careers is an alliance of 20 or more other states alliance of 20 or more other states formed to develop common formed to develop common assessments for Common Core assessments for Common Core standards. standards. Oklahoma previously signed on to Oklahoma previously signed on to PARCC, but Barresi decided last July to PARCC, but Barresi decided last July to pull out of the consortium and develop pull out of the consortium and develop Oklahomas own standardized tests Oklahomas own standardized tests aligned with the new Common Core aligned with the new Common Core curriculum standards. curriculum standards. Murphy said the standards will increase Murphy said the standards will increase the amount of testing children are the amount of testing children are subjected to and reduces time in the subjected to and reduces time in the classroom for a broader array of classroom for a broader array of subjects because teachers are too busy subjects because teachers are too busy teaching to the test. teaching to the test. But Stone said, If its asking the right But Stone said, If its asking the right questions, whats wrong with teaching questions, whats wrong with teaching to the test? to the test? One man asked whether Stone was truly One man asked whether Stone was truly a Republican since the Republican a Republican since the Republican National Platform opposes Common National Platform opposes Common Core standards. Core standards. Is someone who agrees with you 90 Is someone who agrees with you 90 percent of the time on your side? I think percent of the time on your side? I think they are, Stone said. they are, Stone said. The state Legislature adopted the The state Legislature adopted the Common Core State Standards for Common Core State Standards for language arts and math in 2010. language arts and math in 2010. Oklahoma is among 45 states and the Oklahoma is among 45 states and the District of Columbia that have agreed to District of Columbia that have agreed to use them. use them. Kim Archer 918-581-8315 Kim Archer 918-581-8315
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 17:40:48 +0000
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