Common Core standards discussed and questioned

In response to questions and requests for more information about the Common Core State Standards in education, about 125 people, including parents, school administrators and state education officials, were in attendance Thursday night at a public meeting at the Career and Technology Center.

The meeting was one of eight presented simultaneously in each of Missouri's congressional districts by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Dr. Sherry Copeland, assistant superintendent of the Cape Girardeau School District, before the meeting said she hoped fears about Common Core would be alleviated.

"I think there's a lot of misinformation out there," she said.

Brian Bollmann of Jackson, and a member of the Cape County Tea Party, said he was opposed the standards.

"I know that top-down central planning is not the way to go about this," Bollmann said. "Education shouldn't go the way of Social Security and Medicaid."

Adopted by the State Board of Education in 2010, Common Core standards will replace grade-level requirements for English/language arts and mathematics from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The standards, already in use by 45 states, are designed to make sure all students graduate from high school with the knowledge and skills they will need in college and in a career with a focus on critical thinking, problem solving and effective communication skills.

In Cape Girardeau and Jackson schools, English/language arts and mathematics are aligned with Common Core standards and will be implemented in fall 2013, and the standards will be in effect statewide for the 2014-2015 school year.

Ken Jackson, area supervisor for the education department, told the audience the time was right to have a common set of education standards.

"With common standards, expectations are consistent," Jackson said. "The standards are fewer, higher and clearer, and they do not define how teachers should teach or all that can or should be taught."

Those in attendance sat at 15 tables and were given time to write down what they liked or disliked about the Common Core standards. A representative from each table announced the consensus of opinion.

While most liked that the standards are more rigorous, concerns were voiced that they are too much like a "one-size-fits-all" plan and the federal government would be in control of Missouri's education system.

The idea that education should be a "bottom-up" process and not "top-down" met with applause from many in the audience.

Mike Ponder, a local attorney and member of the State Board of Education, said he wasn't surprised by questions he heard about Common Core.

"I've heard a lot of them being a member of the SBE," Ponder said. "I know that people can have a difference of opinion on the matter, but the idea behind Common Core is here to stay."

One person who had questions about Common Core was Brad Noel of Jackson.

"I'm not leaving with any better feeling about the standards than when I came in," Noel said. "The presentation was one sided, and none of the questions were answered."

Jackson said questions that were written down would be forwarded to the education department and answers would appear on its website at a later date.

For more information on Common Core standards, visit dese.mo.gov.

klewis@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

1080 Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, Mo.