These words elicit a myriad of opinions to those who know anything about education, and quite frankly, to those who don't know anything about education as well.
Throughout my college education classes as well as my experiences as a teacher, I have studied the Common Core English Language Arts (CCSS ELA) on numerous occasions. I don't want to get into the pros and cons of government imposed standards today. I want to address a bigger issue.
How should Christian schools respond to the Common Core standards?
The following Washington Post article describes opposing viewpoints that Catholic schools take when it comes to the CCSS. This isn't just a debate among the Catholics; it's a debate in our schools as well.
Let me start off by saying, I am the most familiar with the high school ELA standards since that is my content area. I am not familiar with the other content areas or even the lower ELA standards. These opinions are based on my experiences and research.
I do not have a problem with the ELA standards. In some areas are the grade level standards weak? Possibly, but there is nothing wrong with exceeding a standard. Teachers just need to be able to show that their students can at least meet the standard.
My school does not use CCSS, but does that mean I ignore them? No. I am constantly comparing my students' knowledge to the standards to see if they are on track. My goal is for my students to meet the grade level standards. The CCSS give guidelines for what a student should be able to do upon completing high school. Since the goal of secondary education is to prepare students for life after high school, I think that meeting a common set of standards is a very good thing. I personally believe that students who graduate from a Christian school need to have received an education from a Biblical worldview that not only matches state schools but also exceeds it. If students can't meet the same basic standards as public school students, what does that do to the Christian testimony and reputation of a school?
The controversy arises not from the standards themselves, but from how states and school districts implement the standards. Do I think that Christian high school students need to be reading The Stranger, The Kite Runner, or The Catcher in the Rye? Not necessarily. There are many other appropriate novels that can be used to teach about other cultures and philosophies as well as key elements of literature, yet many schools dictate these novels as part of the curriculum because they are "required by Common Core." The ELA standards never state what novels must be taught. Sure, they give suggestions on what novels to teach, but they aren't requirements.
The standards themselves are amoral, and, being such, I think that Christian schools should use them as best they can in order to prepare students for a world outside of Christian education. But like in all areas of life, the standards need to be implemented from a Christian worldview.
References
Strauss, V. (2015, September 20). Why Catholics are fighting each other over the Common Core standards. Retrieved March 08, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/09/20/why-catholics-are-fighting-each-other-over-the-common-core-standards/?utm_term=.fe69b2467e5f
I do agree that students should be able to exceed CCSS. I am a Christian school secondary education teacher also and I expect my students to be able to meet public school standards but want them to be able to go beyond that. What is their worldview? How will they apply what they have learned to those around them? When they are an adult I want them to speak knowledgeable. In a Christian school I believe we should excel. So go beyond, stretch them.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Christian schools need to evaluate their curriculum every year to make sure they are at least meeting standards. This is a process that should involve the parents, teachers, and administrators. While it might take some extra effort, if it means we are providing a superior education it is worth it.
DeleteAs a parent of Christian school children, graduates and current, I (we) always wanted our children to receive, first and foremost, a Bible-centered education. That is simply why we placed them in a Christian school. It made it easier on us not to face the task of un-educating them daily from things we didn't want them taught or exposed to in the public school system. Never was it a desire to just get them a basic education so they could hopefully pass themselves off as educated. We wanted them to do their best with what God enabled them to have. That places a lot of responsibility back on the school to do its best in providing education and resources that give a child the ability to excel and exceed, not just for their own benefit, but so as to be a more effective parent, citizen, employee, neighbor, church member, etc. AND NOT be a potential "detriment" or "deterrent" to those around them that are unsaved. God doesn't reach deep into a cave usually to draw someone out that has done their best to avoid socializing and educating themselves but seeks to use people that do their best with what God gives them. We can avoid socializing and educating ourselves in the best of schools. Holding a high standard (higher than accepted norms) should be the goal of Christian education. Without an abundance of deliberation, the only danger I see in accepting a set of guidelines that allow freedom of choice as you mention, is that too many educators may become comfortable and drop their guard. Waking up too late to see that choices have led to loss of freedoms and, worse, a moral decline in students would be beyond tragic.
ReplyDeleteWe have home-schooled all 5 of our children. I just found out these online tools are available. We have been searching for something like this for months. Thanks for bringing them to our attention. I just wish I had known of them a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteLearning should be fun. It should be interesting. Ways of conquering unpleasant tasks help to equip us for real life.
Thanks again for such informative, clear information.
I agree that learning should be fun! I am so thankful that other people have the time to research educational tools and provide honest reviews, so that I don't have to. It sure does make the process easier for me.
DeleteI'm all for going over and beyond government standards. Mainly I think if the school holds a higher standard, and the students are continuing to excel over government schools. The government is more likely to stay out of private schools with mandated rules and regulations. Like core math, that is just a dumbing down process. It does not prepare students for real world math. I hate to see the day where this is forced to be taught in every school.
ReplyDeleteI have heard lots of complaints about Common Core Math. Since I don't teach math or have kids learning math, I am not familiar with these, but I do hope to research them some time in the near future.
DeleteI am not an educator but feel that, while common core sets some minimum "dumbing down" standard for students, a Christian education should seek to set a high standard of both moral and academic teaching. The Scriptural principle of "doing your best" should be ingrained into each student's thinking! The academic teaching should should be at a high level and needs to include application principles which will help the student to develop a world view, encouraging him/her to live uprightly in sometimes difficult, confusing world. Using common core as a base line may be useful but only to set the Christian education standard at a much higher level!
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