National Curriculum Standards

Avatar for thefalliblefiend
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
National Curriculum Standards
8
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 9:09am

In another thread, AuntAnna asked the following question, which I think deserves its own thread:

"How do people on this board feel about a national curriculum standards?"

I think it's a great idea, but there will probably be great resistance. At a minimum there would be disagreement about what the standards should be. I would like to see broad standards across the board that did not go down into specifics about how teaching is done.

I failed second grade. My parents say I went to 8 different schools that year, but I only recall about 3. It was a long time ago, but it was an extremely unpleasant experience. (My biggest problems were that I had a marked southern accent and the people in NH thought that *I* talked funny, and I was a victim of the New Math.) School was a mystery to me.

Later in MS and HS, I ended up reading Julius Caesar twice and Romeo and Juliet 3 times because different school systems covered them in different grades. I had zoology twice in biology, but very little botany. Mine was an anomalous experience even by military brat standards. Fortunately, I eventually got to attend DoDDs schools for which I will always be grateful. Huge difference.

My kids have and do attend one of the top school systems in the country. It was one of the primary considerations in moving to this area. My nephews and nieces attend(ed) one of the worst. The difference in their intellectual preparedness are due in large part to the home environments. But there's a huge component that is due to the quality of teaching. My daughters have had a few incompetent teachers. My nephews and nieces have had many. Even if we had national standards, how do you get teachers in some areas who can actually teach to those standards?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2008
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 9:48am

Thanks for posting this discussion. I'm somewhat conflicted about a national curriculum. I see some value in local control. The problem that I have with our current local/state control system is the large gaps in students experience and knowledge. Local curriculum get loaded down with things local Indian Day, Irish Potato Famine Day, and Service Learning days and cores concepts are ignored.

Some students will have read several Shakespeare plays, while others graduate without having read any books, let alone Shakespeare.

The value of a national curriculum is that all students will graduate with a uniform information base. The danger would be that it would end educational innovation.

I also think a revision is needed in teacher education with less emphasis on teaching theory courses and a greater emphasis on the disciplines (especially math and science).

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 10:13am
I don't know the we ever really could come up with one national standard.

 


 


I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 11:14am

I oppose it, for the simple reason that I oppose nationalized control of education.


As a general rule, government (or any sort) works best when it is run at a level as close to those affected as possible.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2001
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:01pm

I could have typed out absinthe's post word for word. Whenever possible, I prefer local control of all aspects of government.

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VJ-Sig
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:06pm
Does that mean I can move to Alaska?
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2008
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:41pm

>>I also think a revision is needed in teacher education with less emphasis on teaching theory courses and a greater emphasis on the disciplines (especially math and science).<<


In California teacher training takes place after a teacher graduates with a degree in something else.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2001
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 1:12pm

Of course you can move to Alaska.. I'll build you an igloo in my front yard ;) I think we all lean more than a little to the libertarian mindset up here, so the more the merrier.

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VJ-Sig
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2006
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 2:44pm
I'm opposed to "national curriculum standards" for several reasons, in part because (at least so far) those setting the "standards" don't have the slightest idea what is important from a pedagogical standpoint, and are unwilling to accept that all learners are different, on different timetables, with different abilities and aptitudes and interests.