Review: The Biggest Fallacy of the Common Core Standards (An article by Diane Ravitch) - 3

Hello All!

Back once more! 

And with another review. This time around, I will be reviewing an article written by Diane Ravitch of the Huffington Post.

In her article "The Biggest Fallacy of the Common Core Standards" Ravitch takes a stand against the new educational system that 45 of the 50 States are now transitioning into. The Common Core State Standards. The Common Core boosters and promoters claim that the CCSS will help students become "college and career ready."

Ravitch's biggest problem with the CCSS is that the advocates for the program really have no substantial evidence as to whether or not the Common Core is as successful as they are claiming it to be. Many big-time corporations have put out advertisements (in favor of CCSS) dramatically claiming that the US economy will be in trouble if every state does not abide with the Common Core Standards.

"A report from the Council on Foreign Relations last year (chaired by Joel Klein and Condoleeza Rice) warned that our national security was at risk unless we adopt the Common Core standards." -Diane Ravitch

Even with these claims, Ravitch is not buying into this new program. Because the program is so new, she worries that there little to no evidence to prove that it will help of these national problems or help prepare students for their college and "real-world" careers.

MY RESPONSE: Ravitch has some really great points in her article. I will say that these major corporations and the foreign relations council are being quite dramatic about the importance of the CCSS. It is a bit extreme and presumptious to say that our nation's security and economy lies in standardized benchmarks and test scores. I certainly hope that is not how we portray this new system to our students. No pressure or anything, right kids? If you don't pass this test, welcome to the Great, Great Depression. These are some bold claims being made by these different organizations as well as the promoters of the CCSS, especially if they do not have any evidence to back them up.

Ravitch raises a great question in her article that really stuck out to me:

"Can anyone explain how the nation can adopt national standards without any evidence whatever that they will improve achievement, enrich education, and actually help to prepare young people -- not for the jobs of the future, which are unknown and unknowable --but for the challenges of citizenship and life?"

Exactly. To me, that is THE most important thing we, as educators, should be teaching our children: The importance of being the best citizen they can be and helping them reach their full potential as well as preparing them for the different challenges in life.

Jobs are fleeting. Who knows what jobs may still exist by the time our students are old enough to have one?  Instead, we should emphasize the valuable lessons, things that our children can take with them no matter where they go in life. Things that they will always be able to hold onto no matter if there are zero or a million jobs left in the world. 

As much as I believe students should be challenged in their academics, I do not believe the claims that are being thrown out there should be WHY we are challenging them.

Until next time,

Emily