Comments on: Gaetz: Common Core Educational Standards Are Not A Conspiracy

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Sat, 09 Nov 2013 18:27:04 +0000

Zip code does not determine mental ability or work ethic. People in certain areas tend to do more like each other but it is not a cause and effect thing. More of a “birds of a feather tend to flock together” type thing.

By: Escambia teacher

Escambia teacher — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:30:36 +0000

I am sad to see all the misconceptions about Common Core expressed here, so let me address a few comments. First, teaching kids to think is one of the biggest strengths of Common Core design, and is so much better for our students than continuing to raise these multiple choice bubble-babies as we have for the last 15 or so years.
Second, every survey I have seen shows the vast majority of teachers support Common Core standards as better than our existing standards. Most teachers do have reservations about implementing the Common Core-based tests before we have had time to implement the standards and develop our local curriculum plans. That is just not fair to our students.
The standards require more complex understanding and are much more focused on math and reading application, with fewer ideas that build from year to year rather than the current scatter-gun approach of many shallowly understood topics skimmed at every grade. Those of us who have been teaching a while keep saying that Common Core is simply what we called “good teaching” before the era of teaching to the bubble test.
Read the standards for yourself grade by grade to see how much better these are than our current standards. See for yourself if what you have been told is true.
http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards

By: panhandleobserver

panhandleobserver — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:31:14 +0000

IF Common Core is such a good thing , then why do most teachers dislike it, ,as for believing anything from this man,, Who can trust a man who fired a teacher for not “GIVING” a passing grade to an athlete so he could play

By: Dennis HE Wiggins

Dennis HE Wiggins — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:09:59 +0000

Mr. Gaetz obviously has not seen and read the same things I have. (Which most politicians don’t anyway ~ “But we have to pass the [health care] bill so that you can find out what’s in it . . . .”) Everything I have read points to the federal government buying authority it does not have in the Constitution. Futhermore, the “standards” are nothing more than an attempt not to teach our children HOW to think but WHAT to think! Dumb them down and put garbage in their minds and soon they are zombies walking around and will do whatever you want them to do without considering the ramifications!

By: Glad to be Green

Glad to be Green — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 12:27:20 +0000

Here’s something to chew on: If the State of Florida showed it could care for its own people properly (we’re need the bottom on education, btw), then the Federal Gov wouldn’t need to impose these standards.

Everyone wants to lay around and do as little as possible until mom and dad come home. Then it’s all finger pointing and whining about the chores we need to do. Same thing with environmental standards, minimum wage laws, HEALTHCARE…I mean people in FL wouldn’t need to rely on the Federal Health Exchange website if Rick Scott had got off his duff and built one for Floridians. But nooooo…he really showed Obama who’s who. Yeah, right.

By: Patsy Green

Patsy Green — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 12:22:25 +0000

Education has not been in local hands for at least 50 years.

By: Sick and tired

Sick and tired — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 10:25:58 +0000

People want to talk about needing a government program to raise the education standards. Seems to me that the state of FL can raise the standards any time they want. You don’t need Common Core to do that.

Why would any state want to give up control to the Feds? Oh that’s right….follow the money.

By: JimmyR

JimmyR — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 08:24:55 +0000

@Glad To Be Green: Put down the Kool-Aid and walk away from the cup!!! It’s for your own good!

By: Glad to be Green

Glad to be Green — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 06:47:33 +0000

Kudos to Mr. Gaetz for calling “Crazy” when he sees it (and in a funny way, no less!). People, there are no death panels, no ones coming to kill grandma or take your guns, or impose Sharia Law on you; you can say Merry Christmas all you want, and no one’s going to come in the night and teach your children any of the following: Evolution, how to exercise, or what a vegetable is.

I applaud Mr. Gates in this situation because it’s difficult to watch progress in our nation get hamstrung by “chain e-mail-intellectuals” who think their opinion, or how they “feel” about science is just as (if not more so) valid than a scientist’s. Researchers and professionals who make decisions based on data and academic consensus are motivated by getting things right; by doing the right thing; by getting the best answer for all of us.

Science isn’t a conspiracy theory.

By: INFERNAL BEAR

INFERNAL BEAR — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 22:31:29 +0000

Fran, it has to be whole milk. 2% won’t do it.