The Common Core: What's It All About...

Most of my readers are probably younger than me so I will take a moment to explain a few presuppositions (something taken for granted in advance) that I work from on the assumption that not everybody reading here is necessarily aware of facts that I think are understood and that I might take for granted.

First - allow me to point out that there are a number of basic ways to instruct and I would like to consider two dissimilar methods. One tried and true method is the teaching of facts accompanied by encouragement that will hopefully spur the student on to form his or her own opinions based on the supplied facts – it’s called critical thinking. There is a lot of reliance in this methodology upon the innate intellect of the student and there will obviously be differing outcomes. Another methodology that is relatively new in comparison is what is known as OBE – Outcome Based Education. The OBE method of education relays specific information in an attempt to persuade the student to arrive at desired conclusions; conclusions, incidentally, deemed right and proper by the educator. For instance, if the object is to confer the idea that bullying is wrong, a lesson is crafted that attempts to lead the student to that conclusion. If the exercise is unsuccessful in producing the desired outcome the exercise, in one way or another, is repeated until a satisfactory outcome is produced.

The Common Core is nothing more than the newest reincarnation of Outcome Based Education. Follow me…

In case you were unaware, the original method of teaching literature and grammar in America was to use texts such as the King James Bible and other literary classics as examples of correct word and grammar usage. The King James Version of the Bible has been highly acclaimed for hundreds of years as a masterpiece of the English language. In fact, I would garner that most reading this blog are unaware of how dependent colloquial English is upon the King James Bible…

For instance, are you aware of the origination of the following phrases: “the handwriting on the wall” (KJV – Daniel 5:5); “a house divided against itself cannot stand” (KJV – Matthew 12:25); “a man after his own heart” (KJV – Samuel 13:14); “a multitude of sins” (KJV – James 5:20); “a thorn in the flesh” (KJV – 2 Corinthians 12:7); “am I my brother’s keeper” (KLV – Genesis 4:9); “as you sow, so shall you reap” ( KJV -  Galatians 6: 7); “blessed are the peacemakers” (KJV – Matthew 5:9); and on and on and on, ‘ad infinitum.’

So, what’s changed? Well, consider that the Gettysburg Address, a document that might be presented as a prime example of classic American literature, has been used for years to teach English grammar. The idea is to present the text of the Address with minimum context and/or explanation allowing the student to form his or her own opinions about the document and its meaning. On the other hand, under the Common Core methodology, the idea is to assure that every child in America is “on the same page at the same time;” in other words, that they all arrive at the agreed upon explanation. That is not teaching; that is indoctrination.

With the Common Core methodology, the teaching of English through the use of classical texts is replaced by the use of “informational texts; government documents, court opinions, and technical manuals.” According to the Huffington Post, a liberal leaning publication, it is being reported that academic benchmarks are calling for 12th grade reading to consist of 70% nonfiction or “informational texts,” stepping it up from the 50% informational texts’ requirement for elementary students.

The second presupposition that I work from is that MY children are MY responsibility. They are not the responsibility of the state or anybody else. I am responsible for their physical well-being, their spiritual well-being, their psychological well-being, and, yes, their education. If you choose to hand off the responsibility of the education of your children to the state, that is your choice, but I’m not sure you know what you are in for; nor will you necessarily appreciate the result.

Okay, have I offended your sensibilities yet? Frankly, at this point, I don’t care. I am here to tell you that you have been sold a bill of goods concerning your responsibilities with respect to your children. You weren’t asked about your opinion of the Common Core; you were told that this is how it will be done by an overreaching gaggle of bureaucrats who obviously know better than you.

I won’t argue with anyone as to whether the founding fathers were supportive or not of public education. I will, however, argue that what we have now is far, far afield from what was originally intended. It would be fair, as a matter of fact, to identify Thomas Jefferson as the father of public education, but not our current version of public education. “Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary for good government and the happiness of mankind, the means of education shall forever be encouraged” (TJ –The Northwest Ordinance). If you know anything about the Common Core, I ask you if it sounds like a reasonable alternative for Jefferson’s idea of public education.

In the end, our teachers are becoming nothing more than testers who have been pressured to assure that our children have learned the current government mantras. Is that really what you had in mind?