irritatedI know that a tiny leak, an almost imperceptible drip can becomes something larger. And so it is with CCSS and some of the other "reforms" I see offered to fix education.
Drip: professional literacy organizations were not invited to the table as the "architects" put together this new curriculum that purports to be the perfect curriculum for ALL kids.
Drip: tests are being prepared and, once again, literacy organizations are locked out.
Drip: model framework lessons are slow in coming and do not live up to the expectations that they would "revolutionize" education
Drip: "experts" are in disagreement about standards, assessments, etc.
Drip: even the architects cannot seem to speak with one voice about what is required, prohibited.
Drip: schools are scrambling to figure out how to have enough bandwidth, machines, etc. for the tests which are electronically administered.
Drip: the estimate I saw for each test was to allow 10 minutes for instructions for EACH (really?).
Drip: preschool classes are being bombarded with CCSS-ready activities
Drip: value added measures of teacher effectiveness
Drip: attacks on teacher education/preparation programs with many roads to alt cert
Drip: lesson plans that seem to be the same old same old but with new language
Drip: ignorance of child development
Drip: contemporary texts are few and far between
Drip: diversity of literature is MIA
Drip: reading levels and lexiles are above each grade level (not on but above)
Drip: new labeling (AR is now CCSS approved, etc.)
Drip: PD is still woefully inadequate
Drip: CCSS aligned has become a cash cow for some
Drip: conformity not creativity is the watchword
Drip: editorials in leading papers (I'm looking at YOU, NYT) seem to have been written by the CCSS and are nothing more than endorsements)
Drip: folks from the outside with no classroom teaching experience are suddenly experts (having $ helps here)
I could go on, but you catch the drift, right? One drop after another and another and pretty soon, there is a swamp complete with alligators.
Let's stop the drips now.