This post by Ravitch is so important for anyone who wants to grasp how the Common Core is a ploy to cause endemic failure. Read and learn the TRUTH, because it shows how the profession of pedagogy has been replaced by top-down mandates which take BEST PRACTICE out of the hands of the professional. Imagine if doctors were told to use unworkable practices, and then fired when the patient fails to meet objectives. Read this, because it is THE PROCESS that cause school failure. The teacher who KNOWS WHAT LEARNING LOOKS LIKE, and who must plan to meet objectives for those kids who sit infant of her, is TOLD what she must do, by those with no idea of what she faces in that practice.
A teacher writes at the Ravitch blog: “As a 2nd grade teacher with nearly 20 years teaching experience, I cannot express how disturbing it is to be forced to use the EngageNY materials every day. It goes against everything we know works effectively to engage and educate our students. As professionals originally hired for our creativity, enthusiasm, and dedication – these materials do everything possible to kill those qualities in each of us.
“We were told from day one that we were to use the program “with fidelity.” It was obvious that no one had actually reviewed the materials (probably due to the fact that many of the modules hadn’t even been completed yet when districts adopted them) or had asked teachers to take a look at what we were being given ahead of time. We also were not given any training – the boxes were just delivered just a few days before the school year began. As the year progressed and it became increasingly evident that there were multiple errors and/or no way to implement all of the many components scheduled in a day with the time allotted, we were then told to “use common sense.” We were not exactly sure what that meant as we were still expected to follow the program and would be evaluated on our use of it as well."
More....
At dianeravitch.net
