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8
13
Yes No
Debate Score:21
Arguments:19
Total Votes:30
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 Yes (6)
 
 No (9)

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Is Common Core All It's Cracked Up To Be?

Is Common Core really all that great? You be the judge of that! Please, though, no foul language.

Yes

Side Score: 8
VS.

No

Side Score: 13
1 point

Common Core standardizes learning for all children. This way, a 4th grade child in Ohio and a 4th grade child in New Mexico can learn the same thing. If, as adults, they both apply for the same job in California, there will be no educational gaps between the two. One will not have an unfair advantage over the other based on what state they went to school in or what school. At that job, the manager can't deny them just because of improper education on California's standards because California's schooling standards will be the same as Ohio's and New Mexico's, along with every other state.

Side: Yes

What a fascinating topic, I'm going to try to be brief but I apologise in advance if I write a ridiculous amount.

Common Core is the start of a unified, fair, and effective schooling system on a national level, chiefly due to what CJDebator pointed out above - it stops a prejudice against certain states/schools education level. A childs demographic should not impinge on the quality of their education. It should, however, be centered on the abilities of the child, rather than their age.

For example, if a child in 3rd grade is learning English at a 5th grade level, then they should be taught it at a 5th grade level on the condition that their other subjects do not slip. This way every year students will all be on the same level across most subjects, with those who are particularly gifted in certain areas being given the opportunity to explore them at a suitable pace.

A further point to clarify is that children who have interests outside the core subjects be given the opportunity to pursue these academically.

I would also argue that the current core subjects are, at best, lacking. The absence of Logic and Reasoning, the Industrial Revolution era inspired mathematics curriculum, and the frankly confusing obsession with Shakespeare in English classes all conspire to make the current Common Core difficult, confusing, and slightly pointless.

Finally, Common Core should not be mistaken for having a Uniform Approach to Teaching. Each child is unique, and should be taught accordingly.

So yeah, overall I'd say that Common Core is essential, however is in great need of reform.

Side: Yes
1 point

As a post grad academic and a part-time teacher at the high school level, in the STEM area, I believe I can weigh-in on this issue with a bit of knowledge and objectivity.

Listen...........

Common Core standards have been in effect for roughly five years, since the nation’s top school officials and the National Governors Association got together to establish standard skill levels for high school students in basic courses.

There is nothing wrong with the ideas behind Common Core, namely setting a national standard against which states could measure themselves. The Common Core standards also are good for the students themselves, helping them to figure out where they might fall short in terms of preparation for higher education.

Unfortunately, some politicians, and even some teachers’ groups, have rallied against Common Core, and in North Carolina, a state commission is going to recommend replacing the standards. That’s a bad idea and reflects the political atmosphere rather than the educational one.

There is a feeling on the part of some politicians that Common Core is part of a national conspiracy to make all public schools conform to an arbitrary curriculum. That’s simply not true. Common Core is a way of measuring basic student knowledge. And some teachers believe that Common Core encourages more “teaching to the test” in the name of scores rather than measuring real learning.

Common Core is in fact one tool that the National Governors Association, with Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, represented felt was needed to make certain that students in the United States were all gaining common knowledge of the basics.

When students don’t measure up, some school board members rightly note, that isn’t the fault of Common Core. It may be teachers, it may be parents who aren’t helping their students at home, it make be students wrestling with tougher courses than they’ve had in the lower grades.

But the answer to problems isn’t doing away with standards. It’s helping students meet the standards, which is why the Wake school board long ago signaled its concerns with abandoning Common Core before it has had at least seven years to provide good measurements.

Instead of substituting lesser standards for Common Core, the state should be investing more in public schools to help students meet and exceed the expectations of the Common Core standards. Those who want to abandon Common Core are jumping from a ship that isn’t sinking.

Side: Yes
john_li Disputed
1 point

It is incorrect to say "the nation’s top school officials and the National Governors Association got together to establish standard skill levels for high school students in basic courses." This is a complete lie. Common core was, in fact, funded by Bill and Melinda Gates to be funded by a small committee behind closed doors. States were said to have taken part in these decisions. However, they were only let in on this after many important factors have been decided. The implementation of common core was very sneaky as well. I am sure that most people are familiar with No Child Left Behind. It was a disaster and was hated by many teachers. States were told that they would receive a pardon from the current system, and most importantly, MONEY, if they chose to accept the new Common Core state standards. However, being created in most part by the national government, they would appear more to be national standards instead. Students now use something called standards based learning. These so called "standards" means that everyone should be at the same level by a certain checkpoint. I don't know about you, but I feel that it would be rather difficult to balance the achievements of a boy who loves science, and a girl that hates it and doesn't understand it. The only way to accomplish this is to lower the standards all together and I don't believe that lowering standards will help students reach greater heights. It is said that now students have an even playing field and each have an equal chance of success. Whoever said this forgot to mention that each person would have the same equal and LOW chance of success. I am sure that being a part time teacher, you would care about what your students learn and this new system is not allowing them to learn much. But anyways, what would a ranting freshman know about such a difficult topic?

Side: No
admiralbacon(229) Clarified
1 point

John, I'm gathering that these are your main points

1. Common Core was founded under corrupt circumstances

2. Common Core means lower standards, so that everyone can pass

3. The lowered standards mean lessened education for everyone

.

Now I can't comment on point 1; I'm not from the USA and I'll leave that to you guys to sort out. I do disagree on points 2 and 3, but only in principal.

A standardised method for testing students could, indeed, mean a lowered bar for a pass, but that doesn't mean it must result in a lowered bar.

To use your example of a student who hates science, this student should be encouraged to gain at least a fundamental understanding of the sciences. The student who loves science will easily attain this level of understanding and should be able to pursue their interests further (this seems to be where the Common Core approach is lacking).

Essentially what I'm saying is that there are two ways to respond to Common Core - you either lower the bar, which is foolish, or you spend the time and energy necessary to ensure each student passes that bar. I don't know which one is more common in the USA, but I'd say that that's down to the culture there, rather than a fundamental flaw with Common Core.

Side: Yes
outlaw60(15368) Disputed Banned
0 points

Post Grad proves you agree with Common Core ! Common Core is a very bad idea you got that one right !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Side: No

I gots a furst rait edjacation under comon coar with the demcrats in powr. If trump an the repulcans git in offise, thays gonna mess evrything up!

Go Demcrats! Suports Teechrs Unoins!

Signs, Clem

Side: Yes
TrumpsHair(310) Clarified
1 point

Wait, so you essentially just finished school?

Wouldn't that explain a lot...

Side: Yes
1 point

Yore jus jelus yer not as edjamaketed as I is.

Clem.

PS - Suports the teechers unoin!

Side: No
0 points

Common core seems like a concept that can be beneficial to most students since it sets a standard learning level for all students. This is vital because all the educational material will all be understandable to most students. From that level, enriched classes such as Gifted classes can be further implemented to provide the need of students beyond the standard education level, but providing the same education opportunities and making the education material understandable to students at their age level is first and foremost. And I believe that common core will provide most students with this opportunity.

I also believe that common core will open up many new opportunities for students in the East. In China, it is always mandatory for students to have extracurricular studying classes outside of school. Every student have to have tutor sessions due to the difficult education level beyond most students' ability of comprehensions. A student's entire life and future depend on grades. And if almost everyone NEEDS to apply for tutoring sessions on materials learned in everyday classes, the education system needs modification.

At last, a student's learning is also dependant on the student 's own ability and efforts. Our learning, is at last, our responsibility that is irreplaceable by even the strongest education materials. Furthermore, even though common core provides the same content of education throughout, the differences in teachers will result in differences in education opportunities as well. Common core will bring a little benefit to both perspectives, it seems like a win-win situation. So why not?

Side: Yes
StarryLight(109) Clarified
1 point

Please speak your reasons, if you can. Whomever disagrees with me.

Side: Yes
2 points

Common Core needs to be eliminated. Take math for instance. The only way to teach math is to have the students get the correct answer in the easiest and fastest way available. If schools want to have students learn to critically think, then they should make up a class that does that and nothing else. No need to incorporate it into basic classes like math and English, etc.

Side: No
1 point

Common Core is wonderful in concept, but not in execution. Due to Common Core, many high achieving students have had to drop to a level that they are beyond. While this is great for those students who aren't as great, it isn't for those who are above Common Core standards for their grade level. Also, if you remember, about a year or two ago, a mother of an Elementary school boy sued Common Core because of a math problem. The problem, which she proved by having the judge do the problem, only took 2 steps to solve, and yet Common Core insisted there be 100. This is a complete wast of a child's time. Children have a life outside of school. They need to exercise and be with friends instead of wasting their time on excessive steps for a math problem.

Side: No
outlaw60(15368) Disputed Banned
0 points

Common Core is wonderful in concept ? What kind of idiot are you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Side: Yes
Cartman(18192) Disputed
1 point

What is wrong with the concept of common core? If it takes an idiot to say it is good, surely someone of your intelligence could explain what is actually bad.

Side: No
CJdebator(32) Disputed
1 point

I am no idiot. Common core, quite simply, sucks. It is an out-there, impossible-to-achieve kind of thing. The idea of everyone learning the same thing is a good, but dumb one. It's simply impossible. So I am no idiot, but rather someone who is trying to give reason to my argument. However, I must agree that common core sucks.

Side: No