An Argument For Common Core Curriculum-What’s Best For Our Children

One of the most controversial topics lately is common core curriculum.   People on both sides of the argument feel strongly about it.  While I can see where both sides have a point, I believe common core is what's best for our children.As a parent, I'm naturally concerned with the Common Core Curriculum that New York State (along with the overwhelming majority of the other 49 states) is currently implementing.  Common Core is one of the most controversial subjects our nation faces today.

There are three points which I believe are key: 1) Common Core is going to happen (it’s happening now), 2) Some dramatic change in the way we educate our children NEEDS to happen, and 3) Expect bumps in the road.

1.   Common Core is going to happen.  The reward for instituting the new curriculum is billions of dollars in federal money to support state education programs.  School districts (and their state level overseers) are addicted to money.  Common Core’s predecessor, No Child Left Behind, largely became unpopular after the many billions promised for its implementation turned out to be not quite as many billions the states had hoped for.

Roughly 10% of states’ education budgets are funded by federal taxpayers.  It’s tough to walk away from that.  If a state hates the program then they don’t have to do it.  They don’t get the money either.  Texas, among a few others, is doing exactly that.  The Lone Star State is going to go its own way with its schools and Texans will be saving the federal taxpayers a lot of money.  Time will tell if they made they right decision.

2.   Some dramatic change in the way we educate our children NEEDS to happen.  When the Russians gave us a rude awakening with their successful Sputnik launch more than half a century ago, we responded with massive efforts in education led by President Eisenhower (his successors, including JFK, followed in his footsteps).  The United States reclaimed its mastery of educational attainment and its lead in technology and related fields within a decade

A generation or so ago the U.S. led the world in student achievement.  Now, we're no longer at the top.  Not even close.   I realize that schools alone are not to blame.  Many factors got us to where we are now.  However, for the huge sums of dollars that have gone into our schools, our taxpayers are justified in feeling ripped off.  Remedial Reading should not be a key part of college level curricula.  Our children need to be able to compete globally.

3.   Expect bumps in the road.   The teething problems of No Child Left Behind and a change in administrations in the White House ultimately killed that program.  Students, their parents, and their teachers will struggle with the new standards.  They already are.

The reality is that great achievements require great efforts.  Our children will need tremendous support to succeed with this change in education.  If they receive that support from their parents and if their teachers prove to be adaptable, hard working, and open-minded, our children will succeed and so will America.