The Curriculum Conundrum
Below is a guest contribution by Leslie Beck, who is a former math teacher and mom who lives near Des Moines, IA. She runs the Stop Common Core in Iowa Facebook group and helps me administer Iowans for Local Control’sFacebook page.The Curriculum Conundrum
By Leslie Beck
Who would have thought that something so seemingly mundane as textbooks could create such a national debate. This is the big question: Do the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) mandate curriculum? The answer is a definite no. The problem, and it is a big one, is that CCSS drive and influence curriculum. In many cases, the influence is having negative consequences.
The truth is that some school districts are making poor curriculum choices. They are looking for ways to align to CCSS. Schools are seeking curriculum with that "CCSS-aligned" label as if it is a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. There are a few problems with that. First, CCSS offers no replacement or refund if the curriculum is defective. Second, anyone can publish a curriculum that is CCSS-aligned. There is no approval process for alignment. The curriculum may be fantastic or it may be garbage. It could be full of propaganda, errors, or inappropriate content and still meet the standards. The curriculum may even say that it aligns even though it doesn’t adequately cover the standards at all.
So why are we seeing so many issues with curriculum in the news and posted on the internet? Is