John O'Connor is the Miami-based education reporter for StateImpact Florida. John previously covered politics, the budget and taxes for The (Columbia, S.C) State. He is a graduate of Allegheny College and the University of Maryland.
A recent study says that schools are emphasizing math which few students will use in their careers. Readers argue advanced concepts are essential because they improve logic and reasoning.
And schools were not spending enough time on more fundamental concepts in elementary and middle school which were more likely to be used by workers.
The authors argue schools need to ensure students master elementary and middle school-level concepts, and that the more advanced subjects, such as Algebra II, are less vital.
Just five percent of workers will use the math taught in the sequence of courses typically required by K-12 schools: Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus and Calculus.
“To require these courses in high school is to deny to many students the opportunity to graduate high school because they have not mastered a sequence of mathematics courses they will never need,” the authors wrote.
The study drew strong reactions from readers who feel that advanced math courses are essential to logic and reasoning:
And the study also found that many high school graduates are not learning subjects they will need to use in their careers.
The study was produced by the Washington, D.C.-based National Center on Education and the Economy and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
“What these studies show is that our schools do not teach what their students need,” the authors wrote, “while demanding of them what they don’t need; furthermore, the skills that we do teach and that the students do need, the schools teach ineffectively. Perhaps that is where we should begin.”
Joanne Land, right, and Lowry Elementary teacher Kimberly Henriquez, sort vocabulary words into tiers to learn more about how Common Core standards work. Land was one of hundreds of parents who attended a recent Parent University session. Many parents said they wanted to learn more about Common Core standards and testing.
The small group of parents hovered over a list of words, deciding where to sort “cloud,” “photosynthesis,” and “google.” They paid particular attention to words indicating facts, evidence or conclusions.
Words such as analyze, convince or insight. Students will use these words to support their conclusions, analysis and opinions.
“This is the key category,” said Hillsborough County reading teacher Jane Mertens, explaining the significance of what she called “Tier 2” words. “This is college and career readiness. This is the vocabulary – that common language of comprehension.”
This is Parent University, and these students are studying new education standards known as Common Core. Florida and 44 other state have fully adopted Common Core standards, which will be used in every Florida grade beginning the fall of 2014.
The bill would allow parents at schools earning a failing grade to choose how to restructure the school, including firing staff and administrators, closing the school or converting to a charter.
It’s the last option that drew criticism. Opponents argued Florida was passing the bill just prior to new standards kicking in which would ensure more Florida school earned a failing grade. The Florida PTA, the NAACP and other advocacy groups fought the bill.
The Foundation, started by former Gov. Jeb Bush, backed the bill along with national advocacy groups StudentsFirst and Parent Revolution.
The standards, known as Common Core State Standards, will allow Florida to compare students performance to other Common Core states and students around the globe.
By now, most Florida parents have heard the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test is on its way out. But they might not know a whole lot about what’s replacing the FCAT.
Earlier this month, 150 members of the Tampa 9/12 Project – a group which shares some of the goals of the Tea Party — met to hear from a critic of Common Core standards. Curtis said people left the meeting thinking Florida should take a second look at the standards.
John O'Connor / StateImpact Florida
Tampa resident Tim Curtis says he is concerned about the federal government is encouraging states to adopt Common Core State Standards. Curtis would like the state a timeout to study the standards further.
“First and foremost it’s not a federal issue,” Curtis said. “Tell me something that we’ve done at the federal level, especially here of late, where it’s been such a booming success.”
The standards have been fully adopted by Florida, 44 other states and the District of Columbia. Common Core lays out what students are expected to know in math and English language arts by the end of each grade.
The standards streamline the number of topics schools teach children in each subject. Common Core also requires teachers ask students what they know and to prove how they know it.
Legislatures and schools across the country are seeing opposition to the Common Core as more states approach the deadline to begin using the standards and accompanying tests.
Questions have been raised about petition signatures submitted by StudentsFirst. The group was founded by former D.C. school chancellor Michelle Rhee and supports parent trigger laws around the country.
The session’s most controversial education bill — the parent trigger — hits the Senate floor today.
The bill would allow the majority of parents at a school earning a failing grade to choose how to restructure the school. The options include closing the school, firing the principal or staff and converting to a charter school.
But as a vote nears, a petition and video from parent trigger supporters have been questioned.
McGrory also found three people listed on a petition submitted by StudentsFirst, another advocacy group supporting the parent trigger, who claimed they had not signed the petition.
Opponents of the parent trigger have claimed the bill is being pushed by professional advocacy groups — perhaps funded by the charter school management industry — and doesn’t have the support of actual Florida parents.
Today’s vote is expected to be close. Opponents of the parent trigger told us Saturday that they don’t know how the Senate will vote.
Last year, the bill failed on the session’s final day on a tie vote. Questions about the veracity of petitions or promotional videos might influence a crucial vote.
“Day Three felt reasonable. If they got rid of Day Two, when even my good students didn’t get to the essay sometimes, the test would feel a lot more reasonable. Is it fair to test the tests on kids though? Didn’t they test the timing?
Anonymous – Teacher”
The paddle at Sneads High School in Jackson County, Fla. sits on the principal's desk.
The Marion school board has voted to reinstate paddling in county elementary schools after a three-year hiatus.
The punishment comes with a few restrictions. From theOcala Star-Banner:
The board ruled that paddling can be used only if a parent gives a standing written OK once a year. In addition, the principal must obtain verbal permission at the time the punishment is handed down.
Under the policy, corporal punishment can only be used at the elementary school level. It can only be used on a child once a semester. Principals are not bound to use the punishment.
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