Opting out is a fancy expression for quitting

I agree with Fred, we did not opt out and will not the second go around at the end of this month. There was no discussion in my house. Granted Emily is only in 6th grade--
I'm more concerned with the lax of the SAT----my fear is that she will grow into a generation of kids that think working hard to get into the "proper" school is no longer necessary.
We can all debate that the essay is not important. Living with a soon to be 22 and 19 year old gentelman...I digress, our conversations sound more like tweets. I follow them on twitter---the less you say/write the better? I don't think so....

I would make the kids take the test but not tie the outcomes to teacher competency just yet. I think that has to be worked out more. I think teachers should be held to a standard of excellence just like the rest of us have to demonstrate it, but the current methodology is not workable yet.

The Common Core has been reviled by high-achieving school systems, because it's not geared toward getting bright kids into great schools. Rather, it's a top-down, one-size-fits-all test that doesn't really measure what most of us parents value, which is critical thinking. Our district is talking about telling the kids to just opt out.

I offer a simple answer on behalf of all those who opted out):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1Z4atC9Atc


(via Tommy)

But really, unlike my day and that of many others of my contemporaries, I remain concerned by the "teaching to the test" that occurs in just too many instances. Education not at all.

At the same time, I'd probably stand for the test s a challenge.

Much research occurred and more in progress (I know a lot about it but otherwise folks will must wait for publication) on how the current approaches fail too many of our young people.

My sister explained the problems with Common Core in a mature rational manner, unlike most of they muck that was distributed through social media. There are many problems with Common Core not the least of which is the corporate control of our school systems through the process.

What bothers me the most was the selfish and ignorant way in which they tried to brainwash and intimidate other kids and parents. I saw people complain about techniques such as estimating, and number line counting. I saw race-baiting. I saw people complaining about math problems because it was too hard for the parents. HELLOOOOOO! If all of our parents were smart enough, people wouldn't be so adamant about implementing higher standards. I saw people posting about how our kids were suffering from the stress of these tests. Please people, the kids only know about these tests what parents and teachers tell them. Kids have been taking tests for years and not losing their hair or waking up in night terrors. I don't agree with Common Core, but the manner in which the protestation was implemented was disgraceful. A typical "Ends Justify The Means" mentality.

Btw, the title is a great song for Gotham Karaoke (may 8th, look at calendar for more info!) ;-)

Last anonymous was me btw. While I am absolutely intimidated to discuss this around friends, family or my son's teachers, I hope I am not intimidated on here.