Category: Finland

Is this the best we can do?

12/23/2013

Momma Bears asked teachers:
What do you like and dislike about common core?
Their answers were surprising:

"I like that students must think critically, but I've been doing that all along as any good teacher does."
"I don't like the never-ending testing. It leaves less time to teach!"
"I like teaching math concepts in depth, but it frustrates and confuses some students and their parents."
"I was happy to hear that standards would be deeper and fewer, but that isn't really the truth. There are more standards and they're just all packaged together."
"The writing assessments are way over my students' heads. I've taught many grade levels and I know that these writing prompts would be appropriate for older students, but not the younger ones I'm teaching now."
"I'm having to ignore bad grammar, misspellings, and penmanship to prepare them for the common core writing assessments. That bothers me as an English teacher."
"I like the idea of every child being on the same level, but that's impossible in real life. Students are not all the same and they will never be."
"My students will be tested on the computer for writing assessments, but they don't know how to type. We don't have enough computers for students either."
"I am worried about my SPED students. I heard the new Common Core tests will be brutal for them, and they won't get any accommodations."
"I wish I could teach more literature instead of non-fiction. I've had to cut great literature that my students used to love and give them non-fiction text that they should be learning in Science or Social Studies classes."
"The common core training was confusing. The 2 Common Core leaders contradicted themselves and argued in front of us about what was correct under Common Core."
"I hate that my evaluation is tied to test scores. We haven't transitioned to the Common Core tests yet, so my students are still tested on the old standards. Which should I teach them: the standards they'll be tested on (and will make my evaluation score higher)? or the standards they will need for the future (but will net lower evaluation scores for me)?"
"I'm grateful that we are given freedom to develop our own lessons, but I've heard teachers in other districts are required to follow scripted lessons. They can't go back and review if students aren't solid because they have to move on to the next lesson on the schedule. I sure hope that doesn't happen in my district!"
"Every time I hear the word 'rigor' I feel sick. Rigor is just another word for test, test, test."

With these valid concerns that teachers raise, plus the issues that Momma Bears has already written about regarding the testing and violation of student privacy that are inseparable with common core, Momma Bears wants to know:

Are common core standards really the BEST standards we can give our children?

Sincere thanks to Paul Söderholm for granting us permission to use his artwork. (gnurf.net ~ paul@gnurf.net) Though he is from Finland, he perfectly captured the corporate influence on our American Education system.

Why are we required to keep these imperfect, unchangeable standards? Why are our children required to take expensive, time-consuming, confusing tests on them? Why aren't leaders listening to teachers???

Not the kind of Party you're thinking of

11/17/2013

We've heard it over and over... Any opposition to *common core gets blamed on The Tea Party. However, republican politicians blame cc opposition on "special interests" because they really need Tea Party support and don't want to burn any proverbial bridges with the party--those sly devils! The reality is that common core is a bipartisan issue. There are no sides of the fence to sling mud on because everyone is covered in it, courtesy of Bill Gates' money-pit.

We have news for you: The only Tea Party that we Momma Bears know of involves our daughters, some dolls, a few teddy bears, and a teapot. We're not radical. We're not political. We're Moms.

Now, to be honest, we've met some Tea Party people during this common core battle, and they're pretty nice people. It is obvious they love America and are passionate about American rights. Frankly, we wish more people were that way. The level of apathy in most citizens is just plain sad. It is much easier to just pretend it isn't happening, and let someone else deal with it. But we Momma Bears can't ignore what is happening because it IS affecting our children. We see it its negative effects right before our eyes. We hear about it daily from other parents across the country, so we know it isn't just our community that is affected.

Strange timing...
This blog has been in-the-works for the past few weeks, and, lo and behold, the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, just happens to insult us moms as we were putting the finishing touches on this post. Oh. No. He. Didn't... Oh yes, he did! He said the pushback to his beloved Common Corporate federal standards is coming from:

“white suburban moms who — all of a sudden — their child isn’t as brilliant as they thought they were, and their school isn’t quite as good as they thought they were.”

Yes, he really said that. Aw, snap! That was the sound of intelligent, insulted parents across the country as their jaws hit the floor in disbelief that the U.S. Secretary of Education would throw our children (and us) under the bus like that.

We are opposed to common core, but not for the reason he claims. Our children are just fine, thankyouverymuch. Mommas know when fibbing is going on. We know that data has been manipulated to make it appear that American students are behind other countries academically. The truth is POVERTY in the USA is an undeniable factor on test scores. If the test scores of children in poverty weren't included, the USA leads the world in high test scores. And, unlike some countries, the USA tests every student in public school, rich or poor. Just look at this article posted last week about the 11 perfect scores on this AP Calculus test. All 11 students were from the USA. The test was given in 59 countries. BAM! We bet those Mommas and teachers are proud of those kids! And, to think, those students weren't raised with common core!

The nation who is "winning" the global education race is Finland - a country that does not have common core. In fact, Finland doesn't even have standardized tests. Finnish teachers are treated like rock stars and paid respectably. Class sizes are small in Finland. Oh, and Finland's poverty rate is less than 5%. The USA poverty rate is between 20-25%. Bingo.

The reality is that we Moms, Dads, teachers, principals, and even our elected officials are finding out that we've been duped. We've been sold a lemon with common core. The evidence is impossible to ignore. After our children are tucked in bed at night, we Momma Bears research common core and education reform until our eyes hurt. We email each other links and share them on facebook. We contact our school boards and legislators with proof that these reforms are hurting our children and schools.

The common denominator in all of this common core and reform-baloney is: MONEY. Our children are profiting corporations and investors. Momma Bears will tackle these greedy organizations in upcoming blogs. Stay tuned!

Next blog: Pear$on Publi$hing in the U$A

*Dear English teachers & Grammar Nazis:

Please note that "common core" is purposely not capitalized in our blog because we don't really think it is a Proper Noun. Everyone knows that common things do not get capitalized. It does not deserve the respect that capital letters imply. And if the real owners of common core (whoever they are) want to sue us, then bring it on. We just might sue them back, too, for taking spelling out of our children's education.
We may also affectionately refer to common core as: corporate core, common core Federal standards, common crap, etc. Of course, you are smart enough to know what we mean (and probably clever to come up with your own name for cc$$).

Is this the best we can do?

Not the kind of Party you're thinking of

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