Perdido 03

Perdido 03

Saturday, February 8, 2014

66% Of NYS PTA Survey Respondents Oppose Common Core, 88% Say There's Too Much Testing

Rebecca Klein at Huffington Post:

According to a recent survey conducted by The New York State Parent Teacher Association (PTA), a vast majority of parent and teacher respondents said that students have been more stressed out over test-related issues than in previous years.

The survey shows that 78 percent of students in grades 1–12 who receive additional educational support as a result of a disability, past test performance or other factors are more stressed out this year than other years. In addition, 75 percent of students who do not receive additional educational support are also more stressed out.

Although the question dealing with student stress does not mention Common Core Standards specifically, the standards -- a new set of controversial education benchmarks that have been adopted in 45 states -- and its associated tests were implemented in a majority of New York classrooms throughout the past two years.

Indeed, last year, there were reports that students were getting sick as a result of anxiety over tests aligned with the Common Core.

Further, 66 percent of the survey’s respondents said they oppose the Common Core and its associated testing either “because of the student testing involved” or “for reasons other than those related to student testing.” And 88 percent of respondents said they think students receive “too much” testing and test-related preparation.

And yet:

Despite this, the PTA said it still supports the Common Core Standards.

“During the past five years, NYS PTA has studied the development of the Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS), agreeing that they hold great promise for students," the survey's introduction reads. "At the same time, we recognize flaws with implementation and are aware of our members’ concerns.”

The national affiliate of the NYS PTA takes funding from pro-CCSS groups like the Gates Foundation, so it's not a surprise that they continue to support CCSS even as a survey it conducts shows overwhelming opposition to both Common Core and the number of tests given to children.

In fact, unions like the AFT and NEA also take Gates Foundation money and they too continue to support CCSS (though like the NYS PTA, they are critical of the implementation of those standards.)

Many politicians in NY State also continue to support CCSS even as they have grown critical too over the implementation and the testing.

It seems the only groups of people who are opposing the Common Core completely are many students, parents, and educators.

Just when will the politicians in the state, along with the union leaders and the leaders of the PTA join many of the rest of us in opposing Common Core?

9 comments:

  1. RBE, Newsday has a story in today's paper claiming that the 4 members of the Regents due for renewal will get the boot unless they publicly state their position on the Common Core. It threatens their expulsion and several lawmakers are quoted. Worth a look.

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    1. Thanks for the link, I couldn't read it as it is behind a paywall. I had a Newsday subscription a while back but let it lapse. What was the gist of the article?

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    2. Several law makers stated for the record that the appointment of four of the Regents was not a fore gone conclusion and that their position on the common core needed to be publicly stated before they receive any support. Also it restates the position of Silver, Klein and Skelos as well as Cuomo's committee investigating the role out, the headline reads, " Lawmakers eye 4 Regents' ouster over Core". Rank and File state legislators said yesterday that four incumbent Regents could be ousted if the state's education policymaking board doesn't act quickly to address Common Core academic standards which have stirred controversy across New York.....lawmakers who control appointments said there is a growing sentiment to oppose four incumbents if they don't respond to complaints from parents and teachers.

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    3. It seems almost everybody with any say in these matters is only pushing delay. We haven't gotten to the "Kill the Core" stage yet. Hoping we get there!

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  2. For RBE:
    http://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle-1.812042/parents-aim-to-shakeup-regents-elections-1.6917656

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    1. Thanks - still asking for my subscriber info, which I don't have because I don't subscribe. Might have to break down and do it again. Lots of good news coming from L.I.

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  3. Cuomo should go about and buy a rubber stamp. That would save his wealthy taxpayers millions of dollars.

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    1. Yes, but it wouldn't give him the political cover he needs to continue CCSS. The panel ostensibly does that, though I intend to point out over and over how the panel is rigged for a pre-determined outcome.

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  4. Of course its been quite important to consider it out with some other certain points and hopefully it would bring about everything to their own interest as well.

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