My LWV Speech and Debate of Common Core
On Thursday, November 21, 2013, I had the opportunity to speak to members and guests of the Baton Rouge group, Leaders With Vision, regarding my experience with and research writings on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). My speech and debate partner was retired St. Tammany teacher and fellow blogger/activist Lee Barrios. Barrios and I debated against tow individuals who support CCSS: Council
The Disconnect Between the “College Push” and Projected Louisiana Career Reality
John White insists that Louisiana needs “the higher academic expectations” that supposedly come with the untested Common Core State Standards (CCSS). He insists that CCSS will “prepare students for the rigor of education after high school” and cites the lametable statistic that “fewer that 30 percent of Louisianans have a two- or four-year degree.”
There is no evidence that CCSS will “prepare students for the rigor of education after high school,” but it sure does sound good. However, let’s set the issue of the unproven merits of CCSS aside for now.
How about that “fewer than 30 percent of Louisianans” with those associate and bachelors degrees?
Has White ever considered that “fewer than 30 percent” with those college degrees might be enough given projections regarding Louisiana’s future job market?
The Louisiana Workforce Commission has identified 233 occupations expected to be in demand in 2016. The comprehensive Excel spreadsheet is here: Copy of 20062016Occ_DemandListState.
Many of our most recent high school graduates, the Class of 2013, will graduate from