‘One size fits all’ doesn’t work with kids

If everyone is restricted inside of a box filled with the exact same words and numbers — the Common Core Classroom — are we not just memorizing the words written on the walls?

Students are people; each has his own individuality that makes him, him. These prepared package lessons are limiting students who strive to be “above average.” Where will the gifted students be sent? Will they have a separate class, or will their needs be completely overlooked?

“One size fits all” does not fit education. That’s what makes American schools so impressive. We spend time and money to illuminate all parts of a child — academic, athletic, artistic and beyond. If our teachers are told what to teach and when to teach it, what happens if the students are not ready to take the test for that lesson? Do we let them flunk?

In today’s ever-changing world, being told what to do every day sounds reassuring, but we need standards that will actually help students in the real world. I agree with Valerie Strauss from The Washington Post: “The word ‘standards’ gets an approving nod from the public because it means ‘performance that meets a standard.’”

Nonetheless, it means like everybody else. When everyone is playing the same game, you start to lose your strive. Nothing changes, because nothing becomes new. Parents as well as teachers are struggling to pry children's high-speed fingers from race cars and text messaging as it is.

The monotony of planned curricula will be the death of fierce competitiveness in learning.