Dark Days for Education!

One of the good things about the impending Common Core is that it is designed, in theory,  to just  describe a set of standards expected of students at different grade levels in ELA and maths. Unfortunately, that is also one of the really awful things about it. In essence it is open to just about any interpretation including what is happening in New York State where modules. are being prescribed for implementation at each elementary school grade level. If this eloquent presentation is an accurate description of what is happening all is lost and these are dark days indeed for elementary education in New York State.

I cannot imagine what it must be like, to teach these modules where content is dispensed in carefully timed segments regardless of  student understanding and participation. One has to wonder who is in chanrge in Oneonta. Then, of course, there is the corporate control over the curriculum such as that exerted by Pearson and others. SBAC and PARCC, the two approved assessment companies, will make a fortune out of the mandatory assessments associated with the Common Core.   The private sector has probably moved faster than any other aspect of our culture to "make a quick buck" from the implementation of the CCSs. It's not just in public schools where the private sector is taking over. Future teachers are going to be required to complete an electronic portfolio scored by ETS in order to get their teaching licenses. Control over the quality of teachers in the future will pass from the State to the private sector.

Ultimately, the private sector will have direct control of the education of "young consumers". Perhaps schools themselves will be taken over by the private sector. Students from kindergarten on will wear school uniforms with company logos on them; classrooms will be equipped with all the company's latest products, teachers will say "Math class is brought to you today by Walmart". Teachers will be required to drive Fords in schools owned by Ford and wear clothes purchased at Kohls at schools owned by that company.