We all can agree on the problem. Most of us refer to it as Common Core. But what to do? I have an answer.
We need what is called a "National Scope and Sequence." Now, in non-teacher terms, that is a plan that outlines what kids learn and when they learn it. This ensures that a second grader is mastering addition facts in the first 9-weeks of the school year, and mastering subtraction facts in the second 9-weeks. It also ensures that IN EVERY STATE students learn state history in 7th grade and American history in 8th grade. (Or whatever. I'm using basic concepts. I'm quite certain my specifics are off.)
Why is this needed? Because families move in the middle of the school year. We did. And when a kid moves from Tennessee to Texas in the middle of 2nd grade, they need to not have gaps in their education. It's ok if a local school wants to go above and beyond. That's awesome. (in my example, the first school has mastered addition and subtraction in the first 9 weeks and has moved on to fractions. The kids moves to another state in the second nine weeks where they are working on subtraction again. Fine.) But what if a school is behind, or does it backwards? Like the first school masters subtraction in the first nine weeks and addition in the second? A kid can move in the middle of second grade and NOT MASTER ADDITION. (I know, this is a dumb example. Give me a break; it's Saturday.)
SO HERE'S THE BIG QUESTION: WHO COMES UP WITH A NATIONAL SCOPE AND SEQUENCE?
The biggest problem I have with Common Core is that it was created in Washington by people who have very little experience with education and/or learning other than their own. The National Scope and Sequence should be created by, oh, I don't, know...TEACHERS MAYBE?
Here's my idea: Have a teacher convention. You have to be Chosen to go to the convention, so there would be an application process and maybe a lottery. And it should be free. And in a REALLY fancy hotel like the Opryland one in Nashville. Because teachers need to know that they are appreciated. Each grade level meets all week with teachers in the same grade level from all over the country. Then the teachers create a basic outline for what each grade level needs to learn.
Obviously there need to be considerations made for Special Ed students ad for Gifted students. But basically, all students in the elementary grades need to be learning the same basic thing at the same time.
Middle school is trickier because classes start branching out so much. You have bigger schools, smaller schools, schools which can’t offer as many electives because of money. That’s not what I’m talking about. Certainly middle school Math, Science, English, and Social Studies teachers can get together and decide what students need to master by the time they finish each 9-weeks of 6th, 7th, 8th grade. (And can we all agree to lay off the Algebra? Seriously. Because nobody cares about the Pythagorean Theorem. I have NEVER used that outside of class.)
High school is trickier still because we need to get kids thinking about things like Jobs and Careers. Teachers from different parts of the country can see different needs, because jobs available in Central Texas are waaaay different than jobs available in New York City. But every city needs plumbers. And why don’t we teach basic electronics? People don’t know how to hook up their own TVs. Teach a kid to do that and she will make a FORTUNE. What basic education can be agreed on? Again, Math, Science, English, Social Studies. Certain things all students need to succeed in Real Life.
And make it easier for credits to transfer. Because moving in high school is hard enough.
High school is trickier still because we need to get kids thinking about things like Jobs and Careers. Teachers from different parts of the country can see different needs, because jobs available in Central Texas are waaaay different than jobs available in New York City. But every city needs plumbers. And why don’t we teach basic electronics? People don’t know how to hook up their own TVs. Teach a kid to do that and she will make a FORTUNE. What basic education can be agreed on? Again, Math, Science, English, Social Studies. Certain things all students need to succeed in Real Life.
And make it easier for credits to transfer. Because moving in high school is hard enough.
So, basically, give teachers a one-week stay at a cushy hotel. Let them talk about what kids need. Let teachers set up a National Scope and Sequence. And then let the states and local districts put it to good use.
Oh, and please don’t complain about the cost of this Cushy Teacher Convention. If we can spend 42 gazillion dollars on war and/or welfare, we can spend 1 million dollars spoiling teachers for a week. That’s less than what Congress gets paid in one week. (Probably.)
