Despite protests from parents and teachers, the Indiana Legislature agreed to continue rolling out the Common Core standards, which have already been rolled out for kindergarten and first grade, and will soon be released for second grades (these are the grades in which early childhood experts say the Common Core standards are developmentally inappropriate).
The state board of education, which is staunchly Republican, is firmly and unanimously committed to the Common Core.
Newly elected State Superintendent Glenda Ritz said she would review the CC standards to see whether there was a way to combine them with Indiana’s previous standards, which were widely recognized as among the best in the nation.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Waste by design? Massachusetts standards upon which DC’s were based on were also good. Instead we get….
And I get to sit through three, three effin hours of “professional development” on the Common Corporate Standards tomorrow afternoon (the district is “introducing it tomorrow) given by, from what I’ve heard, the wife of one of our board members (it’s a rural community). I have no idea what her “qualifications” might be.
They aren’t going to want to hear what I have to say if they open it up at all. Hell and even if they don’t open it up they won’t want to hear what I will say. My daughter’s worried I’m going to lose my job and a buddy says that I just need to “pretend to act professional”. I can almost guarantee I know more about that crap than the speaker does (unfortunately it pollutes my mind).
Wish me luck. Actually I’m going to try to beg out of the second half (I at least want to hear what crap they will be spewing, even though I know what will be said) with the excuse that my son is coming in from out of town and we have an outdoor adventure planned (it’s true, not a lie). Hell, if I have to use part of my personal day hours I will but considering all the time I give off contract hours I hope my principal will realize it’s better for him (and me) if I’m not around for that shit.
You have my thoughts and prayers….my son reminds me that at least for a few years I need the job. My administration wants science to be reading support, the core will call for discovery learning if implemented…what a conundrum. I’d rather be out in the woods with my bow chasing dinner. At least I get the weekend before our staff development.
The Indiana Standards are rigorous. That DOESN’T mean that they are good. Look at who ranked those standards as being “the best”. Teachers at every grade level know which standards are not going to be met by the majority of their students. The CCSS math standards are developmentally more appropriate than the Indiana Standards overall, but there are also points where they completely miss the mark. It isn’t the CCSS that worry me. It is how the assessment of the CCSS will be used to further destroy public education that scares the Hell out of me.
I just came across this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/13/former-education-commissioner-blasts-common-core-process/
A little more than a year ago, former Texas Commissioner of Education, Robert Scott, made his now famous speech concerning the perversion of testing. The current commissioner, Michael Williams, has been a terrible disappointment. He supports the current STAAR testing regime and seems mighty partial to vouchers, vouchers and privatization.
After listening to Robert Scott’s speech, I am more aware than ever that Texas teachers and students lost a very great ally. Sad. Atleast he kept us out of the Common Core.
Robert Scott sounds like a hero to me.
Diane,
The bill calls for implementation of the Common Core to halt until after the review process. Yes, K-1 will continue CC, as they have already implemented it. However, the bill has legs. It requires an analysis of the standards, a cost analysis, parent and educator input, and a comparison to the former standards. It allows Indiana to retain LOCAL control of our standards. Isn’t this what teachers are searching for- a legislatively mandated voice?
When there is a beam of light positioned to shed truth and dialogue on the Common Core, we shouldn’t belittle it. I would have hoped that as an advocate for quality education, you could use your blog to send messages of empowerment to the parents fighting this battle in the field. We need educators to support our effort and help us gain traction, not dismiss our legislative efforts. Teachers can’t progress without parents and vice-versa. The battle can’t be won in solitude, only in unity.
Erin, sorry if I misinterpreted the article in the local newspaper. Earlier coverage suggested that there was a strong coalition to back put of Common Core. This article said CC continue, with rollout of standards in grades where they are weakest—K, 1, and 2. If this is wrong, write a correction.
Here is a link to the Statehouse files http://www.in.gov/activecalendar/mobile/mobiledetail.aspx?iid=173640
Because the CC standards are already in place for k-1, they stay, unfortunately. But the bill calls for a cessation of implementation for all other grades. We have had so many media outlets spin it to look like it doesn’t reflect poorly on CC. Our local rag of a paper, The Star, seems set on ignoring facts and pleasing Stand for Children (who have been in our state 2 years) and the Chamber of Commerce. The bill is strong. If it passes out of the legislature, it could reshape standards and testing. Any support or encouraging information is welcome. Sorry if I’m a little defensive, I’m just tired of our local paper’s purposeful misinterpretation of this bill.
These standards are meant to “Dumb down” successful countries while raising up those of less successful countries. This is not good for us as human beings, let alone as Americans. We must continue to stand up against nationalized education, to allow schools and teachers to use whatever means, formats and standards necessary to reach each INDIVIDUAL CHILD.We know we do not all learn alike, This one size fits all national approach simply ignores this fact. These CCSS standards were voted on before they were even created and just like with OBAMA CARE. We get the proverbial camel (a horse designed by a committee)! Our children deserve better. Our teachers and administrators deserve better. This is not a partisan issue, nor is it a union issue. We all need to fight this global initiative within our own states and school districts.
Can anyone help us in Wisconsin, too. I am a native Hoosier, but moved to Wisconsin seven years ago. I have single-handedly been fighting the implementation of the Common Core “STATE” Standards here, as well. A good friend – who happens to be an administrator, gave me an education publication that she receives to help me better understand what is happening. I found out about your efforts in that issue. They were spotlighting the “strange bed fellows” behind these standards as they have been referred to elsewhere. In such, they also PRAISED YOU and your efforts to overturn the CCSS in Indiana. KEEP UP THE PRESSURE. You are getting noticed.
I have been following your progress a little bit. I need some advice as to how to best to accomplish the reversal of our decision to join this UN backed set of global education standards, too. What country are they basing these standards on? It certainly isn’t the US as these standards set most of our children back, rather than keeping them moving forward. Why do they get to decide the course of action in every member nation? And, none of us are fooled by the clever marketing package of saying these are STATE standards. Furthermore, I believe there is a direct conflict of interest when the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation agrees to promote these global curriculum initiatives from which their main source of income will directly benefit. Don’t you? Don’t take my word for it. Look it up. Once you get past their current global sanitation efforts, you’ll see the connections.
Teachers in my children’s schools can’t stand the disjointed approach these standards take, not to mention that they have no support materials from which to draw from. They are creating these lesson plans from scratch as all of the materials they ordered claiming to be CCSS oompliant were not!…This leads to confusion for them, the students, and definitely us parents. There is also only one publisher currently that prints all the textbooks and related materials. A monopoly of sorts, to say the least. This can’t be good. But there are fewer and fewer in this industry. As evidenced by this weeks sell off of McGraw Hill’s publishing arm. But, we can’t give up. We have to keep trying to make people see what is so plaiinly right in front of their eyes and to use a little common sense.
Every few years a new fad in education come about. This is just the latest in a long line of failed attempts to streamline education into a one size fits all approach. What we need to do is to take the parts that worked from the previous fads and combine them withthe parts that work from this one. Then we may finally have something. (I believe this is the approach many have suggested you in Indiana follow.) Makes sense to me!
Best of luck in your continued efforts. Together, we parents, can and MUST make a difference. Sincerely, Marcia Alder Calmejag747@gmail.com