Program questioned

To the Journal editor:

I am a local teacher, and I would like to share my insights on a current controversial topic regarding education.

In recent years, I have become greatly concerned with the Common Core State Standards being taught in Michigan schools.

The Common Core was developed in 2009 with the idea that standards should be consistent across the states, with an emphasis in preparing students to meet the expectations of college, career, and a competitive global economy. Although educators played a very small role in the development of these standards, 45 states have since adopted them, with the incentive of Obama’s Race to the Top stimulus money.

The implementation of the Common Core is extremely problematic, for too many reasons to list. This federal overreach of education violates the 10th Amendment, which says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The Common Core State Standards are national standards (despite the word “state” in its name) and education works best when it is controlled at the local level.

There is also no evidence that one, uniform curriculum across the states will benefit students and allow them to blossom into independent, creative learners. Children learn in exceptional, unique ways, and there is no reason to subject them to the “one size fits all” mentality of the Common Core. The implementation of these standards and the correlating assessments are experiments at best. Why are we taking these risks with our nation’s children?

We are so fortunate to live in a constitutional republic where the power comes from the people. Please read more on the Common Core, talk to teachers and administrators, write legislators, and make your voice heard.

Emily Wilder

Marquette