Parents Opposed To Common Core Speak Out
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's considered a new way of teaching and learning, but now parents opposed to what's called Common Core education are speaking out.
Jessica Kartalija explains lawmakers are meeting to discuss education standards and parents want their voices heard.
This school year, Maryland teachers have had to adopt their teaching to new, more rigorous standards known as the Common Core. K-12 education is turned into one big, national college prep program.
The website describes Common Core as ensuring that students "are well prepared with knowledge necessary to compete with students in the U.S. and abroad."
"With the new standards, we are teaching students how to apply their learning to real world situations," said John White, Department of Education.
But implementing the new curriculum is challenging. Teachers put in long hours to accommodate a delayed release in lesson plans. A recent survey by the Maryland State Education Association finds two-thirds of teachers feel unprepared to teach the new curriculum.
"I'm not sure it's possible for you to understand what we are going through without you going through it with us," said one.
Abby Beytin is president of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County.
"The problem lies in the curriculum that has not been in their hands, allowing them to grasp it without spending an unbelievable amount of time," she said.
Parents held rallies outside the State Education Building.
"They don't want you to question it. These are our kids and this is our say," said one parent.
Critics say instead of teachers having the creativity to come up with their own lesson plans, they must follow a strict national program designed by the government.
"I don't like the way they are teaching the fuzzy math where, if you get the question wrong, as long as you can say why you got it wrong, it'll count," said one parent.
Baltimore County teachers already filed a grievance against the Common Core and the speed at which it was adopted.
Maryland is one of 45 states using the Common Core curriculum.
Other Local News:
