Submitted to the Christian Science Monitor, Jan. 18, 2013
I suspect that the common core standards’ elitist reading lists (sample items in “Are you as well-read as a 10th grader?” Jan. 17) are designed to get educators and the public arguing about what should be on the reading lists, rather than focusing on the far more important question of whether we should have common core standards and tests at all.
There is no evidence that standards and tests improve school achievement. The huge sums of money budgeted for standards and for tests to enforce the standards should be used to protect children from the effects of poverty, the real reason so many students struggle in school.
Stephen Krashen
Original article: http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/2012/0625/Are-you-as-well-read-as-a-10th-grader-Take-our-quiz/The-Odyssey-by-Homer
Yes, yes, it IS a weapon of mass distraction, and serves well those who have constructed this effective weapon. And yes, it is against us, because we all are subject to it.
ReplyDeleteBut the phrase "weapon of mass distraction" is too mild. A famous ex teacher discussed this problem in his book with a slightly different title "Weapons of Mass Instruction" - http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/