I have been hearing mixed opinions about the common core standards, and as I have not used them yet, I'm unsure about the validity to each claim. I'm not sure if there is animosity for the simple fact that yet another change is being enacted, or if they really do limit creativity in the classroom.
On the one hand, I think it is great that there is a standard across the states that allow for a child to move seamlessly from one school to the next and still be on track. I think this idea is especially important for students that want to apply out of state to college as they will be ranked academically in comparison to their peers. Having a common set of standards allows for more flexibility when it comes to overall mobility.
On the other hand, having a core set of standards does not allow for the cultural differences we see when comparing states. Mexican students in southern California may learn in a culturally different way then, say, Italian students in New York, so the cultural differences are not allowed for with a common set of standards. The same arguments against standardized testing can easily be applied here. In addition, I am in full agreement with Gallagher in that requiring a 5-paragraph essay leaves no room for creativity in the classroom, especially if a child can make their point in 3 or 4 paragraphs.
I'm still on the fence about the common core standards and am interested to see how they will be successful or unsuccessful. I think it is much too soon to form a concrete opinion one way or the other, so I much prefer to approach these guidelines with an open mind to see where they take us.
