Heather's Corner: "Common Core"-Oro Valley Residents Give Huppenthal An Earful

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The heat was on for Arizona School Superintendent John Huppenthal this past Sunday at the Oro Valley Library.  At one point, there was standing room only as a crowd of mothers, fathers, teachers, educators, taxpayers, and students gathered to listen to and participate in what has become a hot topic in Arizona education: The "Common Core" adapted in 2010 and implemented this school year.

"The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live." (Source)

Sounds great!  However, that was not the consensus of those attending who spoke.  Indeed those speaking were not opposed to establishing a standard of education. They were opposed to the method used to attain that standard of education.  They believed that the standard should not be implemented superficially, experimentally, or without deep consideration of the needs of students as individuals.

One speaker voiced her opinion that the Common Core is an inflexible way of teaching mathematics and reading.  She observed that it did not recognize and support various faculty instructional methods.

Eachchild she asserted, is an individual. A such, they have individual learning styles and individual ways of learning. No one teaching method will be useful for all students.  She asserted that different teaching methods would no longer would be viewed as the correct or accurate way to teach and/or learn.

Brad McQueen, an Amphi District teacher with ten years experience, asserted that it was irresponsible to implement these standards without facts that prove that the intended results will occur. McQueen further observed that the students used this year for testing those results are  Common Core Standards "guinea pigs."  There are 125,000 such students, according to Huppenthal.

Olga, a mother of a student, brought props: A dry-erase board pictured above.  She presented an example of a math problem completed as required by the Common Core standards. She believed there to be an excess amount of work steps and confusion in order for her daughter to be able to answer a simple math question correctly.

The most poignant moment of the afternoon was when Gaby, an Amphi School District high school senior spoke. She is an advanced placement calculus student.  Gabby stated that it was difficult for the younger students she tutors to use the newly implemented way of teaching math.

My observation is that some people are engaged in the dialogue. Some people are not engaged.   If you have children or grandchildren in or one day to be in our school systems, please inform yourself on the pro's and cons of the Common Core Standards.

Join the debate. What are your thoughts on Common Core Standards?

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Heather Nenadovich has lived in Oro Valley a total of five years. She has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Arizona. Her husband is Canadian so she is a hockey fan by default and so are her two very clever children. When not being a mommy, she enjoys hiking in Catalina State Park, hand building pottery, and gardening. Her favorite things about living in Oro Valley are the towns recognition of art and culture, their commitment to preserving nature and the Christmas parade. (Also anything from GMG Chinese Bistro.)