Andrea Green
October 30, 2013 at 06:40 PM

Common Core standards are a terrible idea for a number of reasons and should be replaced immediately with Florida’s previous Sunshine State standards. As a mom, I am most concerned about being able to help my child reach his/her very best potential but I’m convinced that the Common Core does the very opposite. The standards are vague and experts have testified that not one of the standards is linked to any research showing that it’s been tested and proven appropriate for his/her grade level OR effective in accomplishing its goal. The shift to what is called collaborative learning in the elementary grades is also concerning. Teachers are being asked to simply be facilitators, to stand to the side of their classrooms, rather than directly in front. Desks are rearranged into “collaboration centers. Teachers are told to spend less time giving direct instruction – instead relying on the students –even very young students - working together to find answers. This is a radical shift in methodology and for any advantages it may provide, it has just as many or more drawbacks . . . and it’s untested. The emphasis on finding many ways to solve a math problem and the introduction of very different methods is also a problem. In the younger years especially, when students are very concrete in their thinking, this tends to undermine confidence, producing a tentative math student. They either become confused about which method is most correct or frustrated that they know one way that works – and don’t understand why they should they have to learn several other methods. Also, in many cases, the traditional method for solving the problem isn’t even taught. This is very frustrating for parents who are trying to help with homework and encountering entirely new methods for solving a multiplication problem…methods that seem vague and process focused rather than focused on accuracy. From “front end estimating” to “finding three ways”….it looks like FUZZY MATH to me – and certainly not how I want future accountants or engineers taught! I know these standards were written and copyrighted by unaccountable Washington DC based organizations – and that there was little input from those on the front lines of education. It shows! These are not Florida standards and we can’t fix them if they’re not working – and they’re not! Right now we have Education without Representation. You’ve effectively removed my voice . . . and that of our teachers . . . and of our school boards from my child’s education. Local control is gone – all for $700 million dollars in federal money. We need to repeal the Common Core standards now and reject this broken nationalized education plan.

j william
October 30, 2013 at 05:25 PM

I have seen first hand that the new skills are doing not much more than teaching kids that learning is not for them. Age inappropriate tasks teach a "I will never be able to understand this, I must be stupid" mentality. These students give up. The result of this will be devastating to the student and the nation. On the other hand, if it is the government's agenda to produce citizens who long ago stopped actually thinking.........well, they will get what they are trying to produce.

Paul Schnake
October 30, 2013 at 05:23 PM

I was a student at IIT when the new math was first debated. IIT and MIT at that time were competitive for the most astute technical university in America if not in the world. I was taking a graduate course in Math called The Theory of Mathematics. This was a sufficiently advance class that no text book was available. The subject of "new math" came up. This was a Math curriculum that was to be for astute students to give them a better understanding of the advanced concepts of math. The instructor and the majority of the students that this would not be a good alternative to existing math which stressed memorization. New Math was designed to give gifted students insight into advanced math concepts.

Carolyn Lansdon
October 30, 2013 at 04:49 PM

Gov. Scott, As a former educator, I urge you to please stop Common Core now. It may have been a good idea at its inception but it isn't any more. Please, for the sake of our future generations use your power to protect them. Thank you,

Little Bright Feather
October 30, 2013 at 03:46 PM

Give Common Core back to the Communists and tell them to shove it ! Plus it is TREASON for DC to touch education or schools or states at all and states that allow it and go along with it also commit TREASON ! The governors can be sued and removed from office by the people if they do ! He commits TREASON and cannot stay in office any longer - must be arrested and tried for his Treasonous crimes. If he is allowed to keep on with his Treasons then the people are also guilty of it ! Keep this in mind every time a state obeys the DC master Dictator who has NO power to touch the states at all !

Lisa Padilla
October 30, 2013 at 12:26 AM

Common core is nothing short of the Federal Government takeover of our education system. This is unacceptable and unconstitutional.

Laura
October 14, 2013 at 12:46 PM

talking points needed