Is Common Core A Common Danger?

[Bill Call]

Bad policy or a bad day at the office?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW0VxxoC ... r_embedded

I'm reminded of the damage caused by the whole language fiasco.

[Matthew Lee]

Why is this in the Lakewood General discussion forum? I get it is an important issue to you but this is bigger than Lakewood and not really a Lakewood General discussion topic. At least, IMHO.

[Roy Pitchford]

As I understand it, Lakewood will be shifting to Common Core this school year. Yes, it is bigger than Lakewood, but I don't see why it can't be discussed.

[Bill Call]

As I understand it, Lakewood will be shifting to Common Core this school year. Yes, it is bigger than Lakewood, but I don't see why it can't be discussed.

In your earlier post about common core you were trying to warn people that sometimes what is advertised is not what is delivered. People should be aware that much of the educational establishment has been hijacked.

A common sense idea like a shared history and common standards are easily hacked.

[Matthew Lee]

As I understand it, Lakewood will be shifting to Common Core this school year. Yes, it is bigger than Lakewood, but I don't see why it can't be discussed.

I have no problem with it being discussed. Just still not sure why it should be discussed in Lakewood General. This is NOT a Lakewood General discussion.

[Roy Pitchford]

So, a question:
Is "The Bluest Eye" now required reading in Lakewood City Schools?

Pedophilia, Incest, and Graphic Sex: Excerpts from a Common Core Reading List Book for 11th-Graders

[Matthew Lee]

No, it's not. Looking at the different courses here can help tell that:

http://www.lakewoodcityschools.org/cont ... =1&cid=496

However, the book of Genesis (gasp!) is one of the resources used in English 11. Wonder if anybody will be up in arms over the graphic language and violence in that?

[Grace O'Malley]

I agree with Matthew - there's far more violence, sex, and disgusting acts in the Bible but its been available to all ages for a long time.

Here is a "common sense" review of the book:
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-bluest-eye

According to the review, students over the age of 15 should be able to maturely read and discuss the book.

As an aside, I have a neighbor who attends Magnificat High school. She's 16 and has read "Fifty Shades of Grey." When I expressed my shock and horror, she said that most of her friends have read it; its quite popular. By all accounts, the book qualifies as written porn and has no literary value, unlike the "Bluest Eye."


Does that mean Mag's is setting a bad example for these girls or not properly supervising them? Are they at an age where they can handle themes of BDSM? It all comes down to the parent who should know their own child better than anyone else. What are they reading? Are they mature enough to understand complex or adult themes?

I am quite sure that if a parent thought A book was inappropriate for their child, they could discuss it with the school. However, as it stands, that book is NOT on the list, so its a moot point.

[Roy Pitchford]

No, it's not. Looking at the different courses here can help tell that:

http://www.lakewoodcityschools.org/cont ... =1&cid=496

However, the book of Genesis (gasp!) is one of the resources used in English 11. Wonder if anybody will be up in arms over the graphic language and violence in that?

That list hasn't been revised since June 2011 and most likely wouldn't cover the new Common Core curriculum.

However, if that list IS representative of the readings to be done, allow me to insert some shameless self-promotion:
http://www.amazon.com/Harvard-Classics-Youth-Compilation-ebook/dp/B00D5D86PK
I recognized many titles from my work on the Harvard Classics...

As an aside, I have a neighbor who attends Magnificat High school. She's 16 and has read "Fifty Shades of Grey." When I expressed my shock and horror, she said that most of her friends have read it; its quite popular. By all accounts, the book qualifies as written porn and has no literary value, unlike the "Bluest Eye."

Reading a book on your own is one thing. Making it required reading in school is another.
Was 50 Shades of Grey required reading at Magnificat? You make it sound like it was, but I doubt it was.

[Jeff Dreger]

Roy, did you have a point to make or were you just wondering? What if it were required? Have you read it? Did you find the topics you listed were pornographic in the context of the novel? Do you feel the handling of said material was acceptable for discussion by 17 year olds? Are you in favor of banning this from being taught? Are you suggesting that we somehow find some way of purging all books that might be disliked by someone from the school curriculum?

[Sean Wheeler]

Roy, this is silly. Again.

In order to post about the common core standards, I'd suggest as required reading actually reading the standards.
http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards

Here are the actual common core standards for 9-10th grade Language Arts: Literature, which, in some way, could be applied to The Bluest Eye, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Little House on the Prairie, Jane Eyre and The Overton Window.
http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10

Perhaps you could go through and read all of the standards. The actual standards.

ps. The math ones are equally disturbing. I read something about the distributive property. You know what that means.... communism.

[Grace O'Malley]

ps. The math ones are equally disturbing. I read something about the distributive property. You know what that means.... communism.

LOL Sean!

Keep in mind here that attacking the Common Core is a pet project of Roy's hero, Glenn Beck. It's a conspiracy by the left wing to take over the minds of children!!!

[Roy Pitchford]

Roy, did you have a point to make or were you just wondering? What if it were required? Have you read it? Did you find the topics you listed were pornographic in the context of the novel? Do you feel the handling of said material was acceptable for discussion by 17 year olds? Are you in favor of banning this from being taught? Are you suggesting that we somehow find some way of purging all books that might be disliked by someone from the school curriculum?

I do honestly want to know if the book is included. I think parent's may be interested in what their children are required to read.

I have only looked over the passages included in the article. I have not read the book.

Until children are 18...or is it 26, I don't recall if the Obamacare definition would cover this...in any case, they are under their parent's care if a parent wants to allow their child to read this book or others like it, that is their right...but not the schools.

My problem lies in it being required reading, if that is even the case. If I had a 16-year old and this was required reading for them, I'd be calling a teacher, looking for some alternate option.

Sean,
Did I say the book was required by Common Core? I don't think so and neither did the article.

It took me about 2 seconds to find Appendix B: Text Exemplars and Sample Performance Tasks. This is not a requirement, but it does sound like an endorsement.

[Jeff Dreger]

So you're worried about a book that you haven't read that isn't required for students you don't have? As a parent of two Lakewood students, it concerns me that such outside interests are potentially meddling in my children's education. Of course parents should know what's going on in the schools including what's required reading. Was there a suggestion that this kind of information was being withheld? I think you provided the solution to your own "problem" - parents can ask for alternatives... it happens all the time. Again, the required reading list is going to be very small or nonexistent if we have to remove everything that potentially offends someone.

[Roy Pitchford]

I just asked if anyone knew if the book was required reading.

I didn't exist some kind of Spanish Inquisition!