What are some Pros and Cons of the Common Core Standards?

Derrick Meador   "Question: What are some Pros and Cons of the Common Core Standards?

"The full implementation of the Common Core Standards is getting closer each day. The true impact that they have on schools and education as a whole will not be known for several years. One thing that is for sure is this shift to a national set of standards will be revolutionary. They will also be highly debated. As the media begins to recognize the significance of the Common Core, you can bet the debate will heat up even more. As their implementation approaches, we examine some of  the pros and cons of the Common Core Standards."  Read the pros and cons here.

Derrick Meador is a school administrator that values the importance of the Internet on the teaching profession both as an educational tool and a resource.

Common Core reading pros and cons  " My district is in the process of transitioning into the Common Core. I’ve noticed that in reading, some teachers are excited. Others are worried that they won’t be able to do as many poems or narratives. I have mixed feelings about it. Here are my thoughts on some of the pros and cons of the Common Core." Excerpts follow:

Pros include
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Common standards will make it easier for students who move from state to state. That makes a big difference in some of the transient populations. 

I look forward to the chance to collaborate with teachers throughout my PLN. Right now, we have to tie things in to our own standards. However, with Common Core, I feel like we can create a common curriculum and do shared projects across the country.

Cons include
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"I’m always concerned when the local context is neglected. I worry that in the push toward a more federalized system, we will lose the local control that schools should have (especially given the fact that schools are almost entirely locally funded)."
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I’m concerned with the push toward “college and career readiness.” What about critical thinking, democratic citizen readiness? What about learning to think well about life?

The Pros and Cons of the Common Core Standards    "Confused about the Common Core? Join the crowd. A polarizing topic in educational systems across the country, the Common Core Standards, also referred to as the Common Core Standards Initiative (CCSI), are frequently misunderstood by those who are affected by it — the teachers responsible for implementing them. But armed with the objective information you need, you can assess the benefits of the Common Core to help you do what you do best: provide optimal educational experiences for the students who are counting on you.

Background

"In an effort to standardize the definitions of educational proficiency among states, the development of the Common Core Standards started in 2009. Those leading the charge included governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia. Various sources and criteria for development included existing standards, input from educators, content experts, state leaders, thought leaders and the public."  Full article

I fear education material will reflect the political correctness of the time and will discourage political debate. School children in every town might be singing this song: