tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041287977169808397.post3176633446266055039..comments2024-03-20T03:15:54.979-04:00Comments on Mother Crusader: Guest Post: Melissa Katz Debunks JerseyCAN's Common Core CheerleadingMother Crusaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05282456501033994143noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041287977169808397.post-10378842407362713172014-06-09T09:03:55.621-04:002014-06-09T09:03:55.621-04:00Thank you all so much for your comments! I would l...Thank you all so much for your comments! I would like to take one moment and address the first comment regarding Sandra Stotsky. Let me start by saying I do not disagree with the points raised whatsoever! To be quite honest, I viewed those facts in a different way: I personally saw it as someone who is somewhat a fan of standards and testing (when you google her the first thing that comes up is that she's from the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas!) coming out so strongly against CCSS, which from my perspective makes the argument stronger. <br /><br />From Diane Ravitch:<br />"Sandra Stotsky was in charge of developing the outstanding academic curriculum frameworks in Massachusetts in the 1990s. She served on one of the committees that participated in the shaping of he Common Core. She certainly believes in standards and testing. She is now one of the most outspoken critics of Common Core. In this article, she explains why. She believes that the insistence on one-size-fits-all will lower standards, not raise them."<br /><br />Finding anyone who was closely involved in anything regarding the reform movement who doesn't/hasn't at one point supported these reforms is difficult. One of the most amazing things about the grassroots movement against the reform movement/CCSS is that it has brought together people - with all different ideas and political backgrounds - together for a (dare I say) 'common' cause among us. <br /><br />Thank you all again for the feedback and raising the excellent point regarding Ms. Stotsky!Melissa Katznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041287977169808397.post-11500517411877532032014-06-09T07:32:07.135-04:002014-06-09T07:32:07.135-04:00Bravo, Melissa. Perhaps if the Common Core designe...Bravo, Melissa. Perhaps if the Common Core designers had had some actual New Jersey English teachers and literacy experts in their working group, the standards would be better. By the way, can anyone point to a case where standards have actually improved learning or narrowed an achievement gap? Russ Walshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01999234982751919638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041287977169808397.post-4605944346011660292014-06-08T22:19:14.457-04:002014-06-08T22:19:14.457-04:00Like how does everybody forget that achievement co...Like how does everybody forget that achievement comes 3rd in Maslow's Hierarchy and the more you focus on data the less chance you are going to have at making connections with these kids. Kids that need connections the most. Kids that mostly were robbed of their identity to begin with. Nobody wants to pay attention to that because they hate acknowledging the 400 years of free labor that created this gap. I'm going to explain it just like I told my administrator during a post conference discussion on my weakness. On my evaluation I scored the second to lowest on data and the second to highest on environment. The bottom line is this, if you me to improve on my data know it will be at the cost of my environment. AND FOR WHAT. Like there is any time to revisit anything if I am to keep up with your pacing charts. Kids First FOR REALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10516579730673663014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041287977169808397.post-64310463974268152422014-06-08T14:16:57.430-04:002014-06-08T14:16:57.430-04:00You write an amazing blog but quoting Sandra Stot...You write an amazing blog but quoting Sandra Stotsky is disappointing. Stotsky has meddling in many states with many standards including the NJ former standards. She is a conservative ideologue and aligned against many of the causes that you champion so well.DrMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00583687508228919590noreply@blogger.com