Criticism of Common Core Becoming, Well, More Common

Parents in Michigan, like those across the country, want their children to have the tools they need to excel in school and beyond. The Common Core national curriculum standards were sold as the way to give students those tools. But with the standards now being implemented, a growing number of Michiganians — as evidenced by the recent House vote to withhold state funds from Common Core — are having buyer's remorse. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's support for the Core notwithstanding, they're right to be wary, especially since Core supporters have too often ridiculed dissenters instead of engaging in honest debate.

Supporters of the Core tout the fact that 45 states have adopted the standards, but don't mistake that for enthusiastic support. Before the standards had even been published, states were coerced into adopting them by President Obama's Race to the Top program, which tied federal dough to signing on. Even if policymakers in recession-hobbled states like Michigan would have preferred open debate, there was no time. Blink and the money would be gone; which is why most people hadn't even heard of the standards at adoption time.

Now the standards are being implemented, and people are asking "what the heck is this?" Many don't like the answer: untested, uniform curriculum standards pushed on everyone by Washington, and they are acting. The Michigan House acted. The Republican National Committee officially condemned the standards. Several states are in the process of potentially withdrawing from theCore. And nine U.S. senators have requested that a Senate subcommittee handling education end all federal meddling in standards and assessment.

What have Common Core supporters done in response to this groundswell of concern? Rather than address Common Core worries and evidence such as it is empirically unsupported, moves the country closer to a federal monopoly, and treats children like identical cogs, supporters have often dodged constructive debate.

Snyder, while at a Detroit event with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, dismissed concerns as politics-as-usual, saying: "Too many people in our country … are looking to fight someone for the sake of fighting." Apparently, it is purely political to oppose clear and heavy-handed federal intrusion in what is constitutionally - and logically - a state and local matter.



From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130520/OPINION01/305200314#ixzz2Ts3SbO42