tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post8516113202854429756..comments2024-03-27T08:53:29.267-04:00Comments on CURMUDGUCATION: What Should Conservatives Be For In EducationPeter Greenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16511193640285760299noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-92047693228009673582014-05-29T00:32:52.343-04:002014-05-29T00:32:52.343-04:00Janet - you have nailed it. More reality in fewer ...Janet - you have nailed it. More reality in fewer words, both blunt and graceful. Absolutely agree. @bluecerealeduchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06522475396691986591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-76259492406203570372014-05-28T23:36:45.992-04:002014-05-28T23:36:45.992-04:00I get what you're saying, but the Common Core,...I get what you're saying, but the Common Core, or ANY national educational standards, will not solve those complex "we need to compete in a global economy" issues. And never will. If you really care to do something on a larger scale, then, I'm sorry to report, you simply must concern yourself with the even more complicated issues of poverty, outsourcing of American jobs, and systemic, Brought To You Courtesy Of The United States Government Paid For By The (fill in the blank) Lobby, income inequality, the likes of which we have not seen since the 1920's. We can spar forever over the particulars of any "ed reform" initiative...until THOSE issues are addressed, then it doesn't matter whether you're from Massachusetts or Mississippi...no unified national curriculum or test is going to solve those real life,problems, despite how much some would say they they will. It's a scary, head in the sand solution to what really ails us. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07866024956908778920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-80964995198022578462014-05-28T22:55:07.557-04:002014-05-28T22:55:07.557-04:00@ Media Diva...I think that's an excellent que...@ Media Diva...I think that's an excellent question. But I think the whole CC issue has created, as they say, some very strange bedfellows. I believe we're too loose with the categories "Conservative and Liberal," for starters. Life is more nuanced for most folks. As an educator, I have major concerns with virtually all aspects of the Common Core for more reasons than I can possibly list here, but the MOST fundamental is the simple fact that I believe profoundly in the concept of public education. "Public," meaning as a part of our Social Contract, available to all kiddos without undue influence from the hands of those who wield power because of their private fortunes, and "Education," which is a complex phenomenon that cannot, nor ever should be, reduced to how well a student performs on a bubble test. Never ever should anyone view the dynamic of education in a simple quantifiable manner. Never. I have had the privilege, for close to thirty years now, of having the best job in the world. It's always been messy, unpredictable, and you can never wrap it up in a bow at the end of a school year and say "Here's my finished product!" But the amazing moments, the frustrating moments, the sheer joy when an incredible classroom discussion explodes from a seemingly innocuous prompt. THAT is why I love teaching. When I started in this profession sooo many years ago, my wonderful mentors used to joke about the handful of teachers who, on Tuesday, May such and such, were ALWAYS on page 325 of their texts. I cannot, nor will I ever be, that teacher. I have no issue with reasonable standards, pacing in order to best cover my curriculum (that's what we have year long "maps" and specific lesson plans for), but the CC wants me to become a finely tuned delivery instrument rather than an educator...a real person who interacts with real kids. And that's neither the job I signed up for, nor the job I believe is in the best interest of my kids. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07866024956908778920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-67939326454944903592014-05-28T20:32:26.063-04:002014-05-28T20:32:26.063-04:00My Tweet in response to Rick Hess' was, "...My Tweet in response to Rick Hess' was, "How about KIDS?"<br /><br />The crickets are still chirping.... no response....<br /><br />#ColorMeSurprised LOLCrunchyMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434606158400653601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-72829831921723449222014-05-28T18:31:20.624-04:002014-05-28T18:31:20.624-04:00I'd love to see the corollary piece, "Wha...I'd love to see the corollary piece, "What Should Liberals Be For in Education."Media Divahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12528823388519073566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-70786572226327806842014-05-28T16:03:29.860-04:002014-05-28T16:03:29.860-04:00This is one of your more thoughtful and persuasive...This is one of your more thoughtful and persuasive pieces on school choice and such - which is saying something, given how good 'normal' is for this blog. I agree with most of what you say, although I might like the guy you're quoting more in some parts. The section on 'transparency' was jumpin' shoutin' hallelujah spot on. If you weren't a godless northeasterner, you'd get an 'amen' for that part. <br /><br />The only section that produced shock and alarm was this: "Yes, some local control situations will result in Poor Choices. Liberals, conservatives, mugwumps, and snapdoodles all have the same problem with freedom-- the nagging certainty that somebody somewhere will use his freedom to make a Poor Choice. But here's the thing. If you're not free to make a Poor Choice, you are not free at all."<br /><br />Yes. Absolutely. There IS no pro-choice party between the two biggies - it's merely a matter of which things they most wish to control and who they're giving all of my money to after they make sure I can't waste it on my children. But the most potentially acceptable situations in which choice could perhaps be limited are those dramatically impacting those without choices. I can't believe I'm using slavery as an example (it's like bringing up Hitler), but it's the most glaring example - states' rights, personal property and such, yes. Owning someone else, boo - so we took away that choice. A century later, we took away more because the south was making such crappy choices, often against their own best interests.<br /><br />Smoking was felled not by arguments it's bad for YOU but because enough people were convinced smokers were killing the rest of us, and the children. I can't beat my wife or kids no matter what my religion or belief system, or marry a 12-year old no matter how in love we may be because of the legal lack of 'choice' of those impacted. <br /><br />You wanna talk drug legalization with a 'no ER visits' rider or eliminating sales taxes but building more toll roads, I'll at least buy the pretentious drinks when we meet at Applebee's. But letting local districts or states make horrible choices about education has not proven to be a great system, and the largest impact is on minors not involved in the decision-making. <br /><br />I'm all for whatever dying gasps of federalism have been rediscovered in the whole Common Core debate, but however noble most schools and teachers may be, independent of requirement, the number of schools still teaching Noah as World History and that ducks don't have an echo and that football trumps algebra, or just generally plodding through the motions of the rural 1900's good-ol'-boy system is simply unacceptable. <br /><br />I confess a lack of zeal for "so put the federal government in charge," but for all the value of 'local control' I think reality says we live in a global world (not just global economy - global everything) AND we've committed ourselves to feed, clothe, provide medical care, cable, phones, and self-esteem for every entity on the continent whether they can do anything useful or not. THAT kinda makes me want to do something on a larger scale rather than rely on Earl at the Snake Farm who doubles as bus driver and superintendent to decide what he thinks Boxer & Beulah oughter study. <br />@bluecerealeduchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06522475396691986591noreply@blogger.com