The downfall that my mom and sister (both teachers) see in the formula is: 1) the testing - once again the focus is on the test. The test is designed to eventually be taken on a computer (which is just ridiculous in its own right because the student has to go back and forth from question to answer... Also, some of the math questions are asked in a multi-step problem, so if the child gets part of the problem correct, but end up with the wrong answer at the end - the entire problem is marked incorrect... when the idea behind the test is to assess that they are understanding the concept... What if they write down the wrong set of numbers from computer to paper? They are screwed). 2) next issue is that its all "common" and unless you have a really dedicated, smart as a whip, or older teaching professional, the concept stops at the end of the lesson... If the students could explore further or more in depth or take a concept and expand their horizons, then the "core" model doesn't really allow for it... and just because a text book says "common core compliance", it doesn't mean its really good at organizing the concepts. 3) newer teachers, I don't believe, are ready or comfortable enough with this new model to teach it effectively. 4) There is a too much focus, at least for elementary kids, on factual reading materials. It's fun to get lost in a silly story or imagination... the work sheets my son is bringing home are all boring. Yes, they are doing the purpose of tasking them in reading a real topic article and asking them analytical questions about the material (which is a good thing), but where is the fun stuff? If you bore them to death, they will start zoning out.
Just more "robotic teaching" and less tuning into the kids, concept, and ingenuity of discovering and learning. AND way too little time spent just moving about and taking recess. Shoot, we had 2 recess times, PE, nature walks, moving about time and we still learned very well. Learned to read and write and analyze etc. The reality is that education is affected mostly by the amount of stability a child has at home, and if they are living in poverty, they are going to have more issues. Those at the top, have access to the best private education they can buy, parents who live in wealthier zip codes will have more parent involvement and more money to buy things like computers and new text books... I'm not sure why the governments inability to make income security and better social equality thru their actions or non-actions should be laid at a teachers feet. Its just wrong... and then threaten their jobs and keep their pay low... ridiculous crap all the way around.
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