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Chula Vista parents protest switch to Common Core State Standards
When I initially heard discussion about national standards in education, I was in favor of it, having heard that state standards can vary dramatically; states can do their own testing and then declare that for example, 80% of students are performing well merely based upon whatever standards have been arbitrarily given...resulting in a 'feel good' conclusion, ultimately meaningless. Wouldn't it be better to have universal standards for all states--so that we can really see who is learning, what is being learned, how we are preparing students for their and our future? In theory, yes--but let us return to the quote from the *Harvard Business Review*: "educational entrepreneurs will enjoy national markets". You bet they will. And this will become a huge revenue stream (popular phrase these days) for the providers--so huge, that there is a great deal of push for this national market to open up. Additionally, I have read hints of 'data mining'--so that the very students being taught will also turn into additional sources of revenue, as they are analyzed and further targeted. Perhaps all this is inevitable. Perhaps it is the wave of the future. If so, we need to really take a look at all phases of this and decide if this is what we want, if this is what is best for our country. France has national standards in education, with difficult tests to gain admission to the various universities. But the percentage of French students who go to university is lower than the percentage of US students who continue on. My fear is that the Common Core is really a commodification of education, turning students into consumers some of the time and products the rest of the time; the eagerness of corporations to latch on to more government funding becomes something to be wary about. Education is about acquiring critical thinking skills, good decision-making skills, being able to learn from the past and look towards the future--and also about how not to get 'suckered' by promotional material. Right now, all of us need to use our critical thinking skills and take a look at what is being sold as the "Common Core". Who are the educators who compiled the Common Core materials? Are they speaking up for what they have done, or were they faceless drudges in some back office frantically performing to a corporate directive? It is disheartening to see the educational system under fire from just about every direction. We can't trust the Sweetwater UHSD to make a good decision on anything--they tend to be influenced far too easily by thoughts of personal benefit. We need the educators to take a good long look at the new materials and tell us what they think. We need the parents to monitor what is going on, and see if these materials are beneficial--or if it is claptrap with a bow. We need some community dialogue, unhindered by the 1, 2 and 3 minute time limits imposed by our singularly unimpressive Sweetwater Board of Trustees.— September 19, 2013 10:37 a.m.
Sweetwater school district backs off on Alliant International University plan
Interesting side note: Alliant University is now advertising online in the UT! On the same page as the article on the Sweetwater Safety Summit...— September 16, 2013 7:12 p.m.
Sweetwater school district backs off on Alliant International University plan
New article in the UT on Sweetwater's safety plans...Brand presenting himself as the thoughtful planner...no mention of any of the financial machinations that are going on. AND--all the comments disappeared from the Michelle Rhee opinion piece! Guess they were too critical. So those of you who said something, might want to say it again!— September 16, 2013 5:32 p.m.
Sweetwater school district backs off on Alliant International University plan
Exactly. But I am starting to think that there is a bit of organization behind those three editorials and the Duncan show.— September 14, 2013 9:38 p.m.
Chula Vista school hurries to get ready for Arne Duncan
You said it, oskidoll! The one thing I will agree with kevinh5 on is that Arne Duncan did bring a dog and pony show to town. But it was done for the benefit of those who will be supplying all the schools with their Common Core educational material, in my opinion. Then, of course, you will have the Texas group who will lobby for creationism to be put into science textbooks. You will have the people who are against the teaching of critical thinking skills, because they think that all that is needed is a docile and unquestioning workforce. God help us, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart.— September 14, 2013 3:03 p.m.
Sweetwater school district backs off on Alliant International University plan
Please take a look at the U-T Opinion page online--several columns on what is wrong with education--looks like a planned presentation, anti-teachers, anti-teachers unions and seems to tie in with the Common Core/Duncan dog and pony show.— September 14, 2013 2:57 p.m.
Sweetwater school district backs off on Alliant International University plan
I have come to the conclusion that the name redacted (as discussed earlier) is probably Ms. Horton's. The question is, how much of this funding is going to overhead, and how much helps the students? I fear the students are getting short-changed, as usual.— September 13, 2013 6:19 p.m.
Sweetwater school district backs off on Alliant International University plan
Please take a look at the Opinion piece in the U-T on the CPM/Duncan/grant money situation. Which of course does not address problems at hand. Believe it is titled something like "Promise given, promise kept".— September 13, 2013 10:19 a.m.
Sweetwater school district backs off on Alliant International University plan
Very true. Wish you could speak to all the Sweetwater students. It is great to have goals, and also very good to have some reasonable steppingstones along the way to your goals. Young people deserve honest advice from people who really do have their best interests at heart. Not biased "guidance" that results in debt, meaningless classes and wasted time.— September 8, 2013 7:10 p.m.
Sweetwater school district backs off on Alliant International University plan
Yes, anniej, and all the while we have been told that these deals with all these universities are not costing us anything!! A likely story... Wasn't there supposed to be a mere feasibility study when the Alliant rumors started flying a few months back? And yet--nothing is as was represented. Nothing. Shouldn't Sweetwater's leadership be ashamed for having been caught out in all these lies? Apparently they are of the opinion that the voting, tax-paying public doesn't deserve the truth. But we will get to the truth, and Ed Brand, his cronies, henchmen, loyal voting majority and all others mesmerized by the plans of Fast Eddy will soon find their reality veering in a markedly different direction.— September 8, 2013 6:48 p.m.