University of Phoenix Material
Critical Analysis Worksheet
Read “Common Core” and “The Battle Against Common Core Standards.”
Perform a critical analysis of each reading using critical thinking techniques from this week’s readings.
Respond to the following based on your critical thinking analysis of the “Common Core” and “The Battle Against Common Core Standards” readings.
1) Define the term conclusion.
Aside from being the obvious result or closing, a conclusion is also “a proposition concluded or inferred from the premises of an argument” as defined by dictionary.com. This means, the conclusion is a final logically reasoned deduction.
2) What is the conclusion of each article?
The conclusion from the “Common Core” perspective
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Anything that prevents someone from objectively drawing a conclusion is a bias.
7) What biases did you observe in each article? Why do you think they are biases?
While the “Common Core” article objectively defined common core and explained its function all of the sources cited were supportive of implementing common core standards. The article would state the opposition and then Sell would quote someone in favor of common core. Smith’s title alone lets you know that this is an opposing argument. The article is politically motivated. Throughout the article, Smith discusses democratic initiatives and state’s “relinquishing their right to control.”
8) What might be the sources of the biases in each article?
Personal expertise is the initial bias. Perhaps they have a child that has fallen below common core standards. Living in a state that has already implemented common core values, I have dealt with standardized tests as both a student and parent. While I was able to pass them with ease, I have witnessed students taken them multiple times to no avail. Those politically motivated are driven by funding and votes. It’s hard to determine if their focus is genuine or if ulterior motives are present. I recognize my personal bias with regard to choosing or opposing common core.
References
Bias. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from \
Dictionary.com website:
We need to come to a rational conclusion and make responsible, good decisions. The conclusion is a position taken on an issue also referred to as a claim or opinion in deductive reasoning. Conclusions alone do not form an argument. The conclusion is the position taken about an issue and can also be referred to as reasons or premises.
The purpose of this assignment is to give you an opportunity to apply some of the critical reading strategies you have evaluated.
Against Common Core because education decisions should be made on the state and local level
Some however, such as Tom Scott, the executive director of the state superintendents association, believes “It’s [Common Core] much more about politics than it is about education” (Zernike). Tom argues that federal intervention has created a system which emphasizes easy to comparable results rather than an academically accelerated agenda. Opponents of the movement see the movement as an unnecessary disruption to the traditional state run education process. They argue that in the attempt to create
A political issue right now being argued over is if Common Core national education standards should be adopted by all states. The majority of Democrats support the adoption of Common Core standards while the vast majority of Republicans are against it. The Common Core State Standards states what K-12 students should know in Math and English at the end of the each grade, and to put in standardized tests. Whether or not these standards are put in place can determine if students succeed. Common Core will not allow teachers to individualize their lessons to help students learn the way they will understand best. These standards should not be adopted by all states.
The new common core initiative that seems to be sweeping the nation is yet another attempt at reforming our nations crumbling education system. My assigned role in the simulation was that of Representative Todd Rokita, republican congressman from Indiana’s fourth district, for which I will be giving a short introduction. An explanation of the current federal education standards in America, how the common core is related to international education standards, and the states that have implemented the common core and why they have chose to do so will follow. We will also look at who is making these proposed reforms and who is most eager to implement common core on a federal level. Then examine where Representative Rokita stands on the issues
In the news lately, there has been a controversy regarding the Common Core State Standards in Louisiana. This controversy has been going on for the last several months and there have been different ideas said by different groups of people. The parties that have been involved in the controversy include parents, teachers, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Education Superintendent John White, the Board of Education and Secondary Education (BESE), and the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). The controversy over Common Core has to do with the lawsuits that have been filed, certain tests that should or should not be taken, and the legality and suspension of state contracts regarding the state’s education.
In the article, “9 Reasons Why Common Core is Bad for Education” James Bascom addresses the problems with Common Core and standardized testing in the education system. James Bascom published his article on January 20, 2016 on the TFP Student Action website. Throughout the article, Bascom talks about the negative effect the change in the education system has on students and their parents. He addresses the way that Common Core bunches children together holding some back while challenging others too much. Teachers are often too set on teaching exactly what the core has lined out that they rarely stray from the plan. He outlines how the core has held students back from learning more and expanding upon their education.
The educational system in the United States was originally developed using concepts from around the world, created using ingenuitive ideas from countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. However, as the United States quickly moved into position as the leading country for state-directed educational standards, America looked less and less to the systems of other nations and more into how we could improve what was locally and currently being applied in education. Consequently, an improved type of education instruction was officially launched in 2010. These new state standards, practically titled Common Core, were declared to focus on developing a child’s skills in reasoning, problem solving, communication, and competition (Conrad, et al. 52). While the standards are professed to be an extremely practical and beneficial method of teaching today, there are issues which have recently surfaced and raised some concerns. The Common Core State Standards are emerging as the subjects of a provocative controversy in society today as they prompt discussion on global economic efficiency, nationwide academic standards, and the ultimate well-being of school-age children.
Common Core State Standards is being heard throughout the education world. Many cringe when the words are spoken and many fight to support what the words stand for. Common Core was introduced in 2009 by state leaders. Common Core State Standards were developed to prepare children for the business world or the reality after grade school. “The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy, also known as ELA” (About the Standards, n.d.). The goals for the standards outline what students should know before leaving his or her current grade level. “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” (About the Standards, n.d.). This is an ambitious goal, but with much support can be accomplished. According to Common Core State Standards Initiative (n.d.) The Common Core has been adopted by forty-two states already and is accompanied by District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity. Common Core was developed to improve the academics in society’s schools. Academics in the past years have not been successful and the United States has fallen behind international education. “One root cause has been an uneven patchwork of academic standards that vary from state to state and do not agree on what students should know and be able to do at each
Teacher support of the Common Core is also declining, down to 46% from a high of 76% in 2013. Again, political polarization is evident. Republican teacher support falls 34% since 2013, while democratic teacher support falls 15% (Henderson 10).
Common Core limits parental choice and shuts their voices out of their child's education. (Browski 1) If their child and other students are failing that class they can’t suggest any changes to the curriculum. If a parent isn't happy with their child's school, there is not much that can be changed or that they can do about it. “This is a failed educational approach that will undermine quality and choice.” (Borowski 1)
The National Review in May of this year in an article titled, Two Moms vs. Common Core explains: “Common Core is a set of math and English standards developed largely with Gates Foundation money and pushed by the Obama administration and the National Governors Association. The standards define what every schoolchild should learn each year, from first grade through twelfth, and the package includes teacher evaluations tied to federally funded tests designed to ensure that schools teach to Common Core. Over 40 states hurriedly adopted Common Core, some before the standards were even written, in response to the Obama administration’s making more than $4 billion in federal grants conditional on their doing so. Only Texas, Alaska, Virginia, and Nebraska declined. (Minnesota adopted the English but not the math standards.)”
America should eliminate the common core throughout the country because common core doesn’t give control to teachers and the parents, doesn’t guarantee improvement, and misses the point of education. The reasoning behind the common core is that “15-year-olds rank 31st in math literacy and 23rd in science literacy.” In 2009 the common core was adopted by most of the United States, but doesn’t mean it was the best idea. The person that came up with common core never even worked in an elementary school. The essay goes to talk about how the power is in the hands of the people that made up the common core. Not the teachers or the student's parents that know the kids best. Then talks about the people that made up common core get to pick and choose
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) was first implemented in 2010, nine years after I graduated from high school. Although I wasn’t personally affected by the new academic standards, it has a direct impact on the current and future generation of leaders, innovators, and world changers including my future children. The initial purpose of the Common Core Standards is to set high-quality learning goals designed to prepare students to be college and career ready. Given the current controversies surrounding CCSS, studies have shown that although the intent was to benefit students in the long-run it may actually be hindering their mathematical and reading skills. To further explore the arguments behind the Common Core initiative, I will