Common Sense about Common Core

Overcoming Education's Politics

By (author) Jim Dueck

Publication date:

02 February 2016

Length of book:

224 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781475823240

Common Sense about Common Core breaks down everything you need to know about the Common Core, from how it was implemented to where we are now. Common Core has emerged as a significant political issue and, therefore, a concern with the general public. Special interest groups are spinning messages which are inaccurate or biased in order to confuse parents and the public. Therefore a transformative educational initiative developed on sound principles is jeopardized because special interest groups, including politicians seeking to garner support from these groups, are taking positions based on inaccurate information. This book will show that Common Core is a necessary initiative for achieving America’s Race to the Top.

Preface
Introduction

Americans Are Uninformed About Common Core
The Myth of Federal Government Over-reach
Standards Versus Curriculum
The Political Game
Trust Or Accountability
Fairness? Finally!
Teacher Gender and Fairness to Boys
Common Assessment: An Investment
Paying Teachers for What Matters
How Common Sense About Continuous Pass
Common Sense is Prevailing

Conclusion

Overwhelmingly, the media portrays an American public that has rejected Common Core on the premise that it revokes states’ autonomy in policy making and on the harmful effects of high-stakes assessment on students, teachers, and schools. Common Sense about the Common Core offers readers the less-often shared perspective: that Common Core Standards and accompanying accountability measures are what are most needed in education reform. In contrast to its title, however, this book does not attempt to overcome education’s politics so much as seek to replace them with a different set of ideologies. These are defined by critical mistrust of those charged with educating the nation’s youth: teachers, teachers' unions, teacher preparation programs, school administrators, politicians, and even parents, whom the author has deemed misinformed about Common Core. The argument is clearly written, complete with a bulleted summary of main points at the end of each chapter and italicized key ideas throughout. . . .Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers, faculty, general readers.