The Common Core State Standards are nationwide standards which allow schools, teachers and students to be held to learning benchmarks while also giving states the ability to compare educations across states, cities and counties. This allows Georgia to compare how well its educational system stacks up.
The ideas behind Common Core are great. However, I am more skeptical when it comes to implementation of these standards.
At Grady High School, the Common Core math curriculum is integrated — math is mashed. The sub-subjects within math are no longer separated in the curriculum.
In Math I, we learn bits and pieces of algebra, geometry, and data analysis and probability. These are then added upon in a similar fashion in later courses. Math lessons are still clear and concise, but they follow no logical order.
This backwards way of teaching a subject is not the way to instill key concepts like the Common Core preaches. Instead, it leaves us confused.
Common core does, however, set the bar high for learning — by challenging students to understand concepts, instead of computations. It stresses problem-solving, real-world applications, and collaborative learning. Most importantly, it helps set up students for future success.
The education systems throughout the nation ought to be standardized. A college cannot compare a Georgia student’s grades and readiness for college against a student from California if they are not taught and thereby judged by the same standards. The Common Core creates common ground for education.
Furthermore, how can the Georgia educational system be assessed if there is not an accurate scale? Without Common Core, we do not know if students in Georgia are learning what they need to in order to be able to compete on a national level.
The Common Core should stay in Georgia. Implementation will and does have its issues, but they do not outweigh the benefits that Georgia will reap from a functioning education system that can feed the job market.
