So, Diane Ravitch recently posted something about New Jersey's claim to reforming its Math Common Core standards. Now, this is a purely political move. FatMan Christie has all but admitted it as such, so has Commiss. Hespe and others involved, meaning that they are not going to change much, if anything, other than to slap a new name on it. I do feel the CC Math standards have some serious flaws that need to be evaluated and addressed, with the name not being one of them. That being said, Ravitch often brings up excellent points in her blog, even though she is strongly pro-teacher union, strongly pro-parents, anti-TfA, and strongest anti-standardizarion and testing (the latter of which in my humble educational psychologist opinion, means she's anti-quality of ed for all children). So when she posted something railing against this math "reform" i was not surprised. What did surprise me was how shallow this post was. Relying on a quote from a Rutgers prof who helped design the old obsolete pre-CC math standards about how kids do not need to know Algebra 2, etc etc. I responded with the following points and Diane refused to approve my post: 1. The guy in question is clearly going to be upset that they tossed out his work and didnt involve him in the new process of creating standards, as he says that creating educational mAth standards is basically what he does and specializes in. 2. Rutgers requires incoming college students to pass a math exam where they have to demonstrate proficient or higher on calculus (to get calc credit) or algebra (both 1 and 2) to start at college base level math. If the student doesnt, they have to take a college course of remedial algebra for No Credit but at cost to them. How do I know this? I am a product of NJ public schools who learned the Math Standards that this Rutgers prof touted as adequate. I took this Rutgers placement test. I did not test proficient in Algebra. I had to retake the course at cost to me for no credit. 3. The purpose of Common Core is to prepare students for things like this and to be college ready, because despite whether they choose to go or not, they should make that decision themselves, and not based on whether or not they feel they are educationally prepared to do so. Diane ignored all of this and refused to approve my post. Instead she allowed a bunch of yes-men and women to agree with her and join their voices to the railing against common core and standardized testing. Diane Ravitch proved that the only voice she wants to hear is her own and her echoes.
