Common-Core Turbulence: Inevitable or Preventable?
by Frederick M. Hess • May 10, 2013 at 9:11 am
It's been a turbulent few months for the Common Core, raising real questions about its future. Opposition on the right has stretched well beyond the fringe has now been voiced by the Republican National Committee, with several Republican U.S. Senators speaking out in opposition and legislation to withdraw from the Common Core proposed in seven state legislatures. Meanwhile, in a big blow from the left, Randi Weingarten used a high-profile speech to weaken previous AFT support for the Core and to raise doubts about how the standards are being implemented and used.
Amidst all this, there are two questions that I've been asked a lot lately. Was this turbulence inevitable? Is there anything that Common Core proponents can do, or could have done, about it?
I'll answer both in a moment. But first, indulge me, given that I've long predicted these travails (see here, here,here, here, and... you get the picture).
I've been asked whether I'm taking pleasure in all this. Nope. I've always seen some real potential benefit in
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