Common Core Curriculum Standards (CCCS) are not benefitting Georgia’s students. These rigid standards restrict teachers from including material that the students find interesting. It seems like we, as students, skim the surface of a variety of subjects in our classes. I want to learn more deeply about fewer subjects.
Another component of the curriculum that bothers me is that teachers must cram material into the students’ minds in very little time. Students do not learn when they have to cram — they memorize.
If you were to take a survey, I am willing to bet that 98 percent of the students would say that school doesn’t test their ability to learn. Instead, it tests their ability to remember.
Also, when the teachers have to move at such a rapid rate, some students have a hard time keeping the pace. Then the teacher has to slow things down and re-teach the material to particular students. Constant re-teaching stresses the teacher because now she or he is worried about covering all the material before the End of Course Test (EOCT).
Since the Common Core involves so much material and provides so little time, teachers give a tremendous amount of homework. This causes even more stress on students and teachers.
Another problem with the Common Core is the fact that it tries to turn students and teachers into robots. We should give the teachers guidelines but also let them go into more depth with their respective subjects.
With Common Core, every single student has to learn the same thing; however, every kid is not the same! I’m reminded of a popular quote: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
When it is all said and done, the Common Core standards not only hurts Georgia, but also weakens America.
