Common core: Harder doesn't necessarily mean better

Sent to Education Week, September 2

The fact that classroom assignments are not well aligned with the common core standards is good news ("Classroom Assignments Fail to Meet Common-Core's Higher Bar, Study Says," Sept. 2). The standards have never been shown to be valid and they have never been shown to produce better learning or more enthusiasm for learning.  The decrease in test scores associated with the new standards, however, shows that they are harder.  Alfie Kohn reminds us that harder does not necessarily mean better.

Stephen Krashen
Professor Emeritus
University of Southern California

original article: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2015/09/classroom_assignments_fail_to_meet_common_core_higher_bar_study.html?cmp=eml-enl-eu-news2