It is designed to we hope have students in the United States be in close proximity with the achievements of students in most other countries. For example, students in the US are 27th in mathematics development amongst so called first world nations; this is out of 34 countries. They are one above Sweden and one below Slovakia. Think about that. In the likelihood that High School students will be going to university, and the certainty that at least one math course is required, the math classes will most assuredly Not involve simple arithmetic and algebra and calculus. These will involve problem solving matters and statistical data that actually make a difference in one's life. It was the approach I was given in my mathematics course at Hofstra University, including writing essays that involved mathematical approaches to determine the legitimacy of opinions. If a student does not understand math at an early age, how will that student understand anything for problem solving in post high school life?
Put it another way, and this does tie in with English testing: knowing only basic knowledge of a literary work such as plot, themes, statements and intent can be explained by any educator until they are blue in the face. It usually does happen that way. Once the tests come, and it has occurred in many cases, the questions in multiple choice and short answer form are more specific to the inner details of the literary work more so than in what was talked about in class. Here is an example:
1. Explain what the author was attempting to say on our current everyday lives with the shifts in character development towards the end of the novel. This should be in essay form and will be worth 5% of the grade.
2. What did the main character eat on page 159? This will be worth 95% of the grade.
I note this is an extreme look, yet understand the purposes of the value of these questions. The what did the character eat question is far more important, for one known reason. It will determine whether the student actually read the novel! Platitudes and meme knowledge of a novel is one thing; any person would know the answer. It is more important to read the novel and know of what you write and speak. If they cannot answer #2, it proves they did not even read the novel. And since they did not read the novel, they have no idea what the fowl they are talking about.
This is as if a division problem is solved by a calculator; it is needed, but you do not know how it needed to be divided. The need to go deeper in thought and approach to anything is of such great importance in this ever changing world in which we live in. Along with an approach to have students be committed to do what needs to be done in the tests and not just get by.
It is rather upsetting to me that blame is being put on educators, administrators, parents, society at large, political leaders like Gov. Andrew Cuomo, etc. that are all in one form or another fighting like children. There is really only one grouping of people that need to be held accountable for the success or lack thereof in tests and life advancement. It is going to stun and shock many of you, yet these people are:
The Students Themselves!
Look, an educator, administrator, parent, political figure and other adult leader can pontificate, educate, enlighten, open minds and do whatever is necessary on their end. Yet, it is not them that are taking these tests; it is not them that will be facing newer futures in a more technology driven world; it is not them that are now in a position where university enrollment is more active than even when I graduated from Hofstra 9 years ago. It is the student that is causing the problem, or will cause the success.
When I graduated from Farmingdale High School in 2001, there were some 80 or so seniors that were not going to graduate due to effectively being poor students, if not being ne'er do well people at the time. One of my educators, who also happened to be an important figure with the Farmingdale Federation of teachers and is now retired, mentioned that the not graduating list that year was the largest he had seen in his then 35 odd years teaching. I assume that list in years hence has only grown, though slightly. In the end, those kids chose the path to a life without an education as opposed to a life with one. I guess this is because, particularly when high school comes, students look at school as a social outing filled with cliques, love interests, sports, popularity and other like minded stuff we see in movies and TV shows. I am here to you it is not; it is the time to learn before we are needed to gather together to get through this thing called life. When one turns an advanced age, the world pretty much welcomes you with a middle finger if you are not careful. Everything needs to be earned through knowledge.
The Common Core is at least a start in the right direction for turning students into actually being ready for High School, University, and life afterwards. It provides them to think about the correct answer, and not just state the answer. And it is the indication that a student knew and read the literature and media provided, instead of by meme memory which usually gets twisted into simple parody easily. And yes, the Common Core gives the true purpose of what a pre-University education should be; a learning apparatus for our younger ones. It never was for me a social gathering petri dish; indeed while I have attended a 10 year reunion and still will go to future events, I did not go to the prom, and I am proud of it! I will say that many of my fellow classmates thought otherwise, although they did passed their grades. For me, the high point was getting out and going to Hofstra University.
Now for a pop quiz: here is a music video named amongst the oddest ever made.
Question 1: Name the song referenced in this Daryl Hall and John Oates hit song from their lyrics. It is worth 10 % of the grade.
Question 2: Explain the video that Hall and Oates themselves have difficulty in explaining. This will be worth 90% of the grade.
Talk to you all soon,
Robert
Bonus question: I referenced two songs during this essay. Please name the songs.
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