“The only winner in the War of 1812 was Tchaikovsky.”

~ Solomon Short

And the only winner from the new Common Core standards may be the publishing companies.

~ Ms. Q

What are learning standards? Learning standards are written descriptions of educational objectives, describing what students are expected to know and be able to do at specific stages in their education. Until recently, students were operating with state learning standards, objectives that varied from state to state but were essentially similar. States put a great deal of effort into the creation of these academic goals. Here are two samples from the old Illinois math standards. The first is a late elementary standard, the second a middle school standard:

6.B.2  Solve one- and two-step problems involving whole numbers, fractions and decimals using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

8.C.3  Apply the properties of numbers and operations including inverses in algebraic settings derived from economics, business and the sciences.

Many states are now adopting a new set of standards, intended to be national standards, called the Common Core. A sample, middle school common core standard shows that standards are standards are standards. CCSS.Math.Content.7.RP.A.1 reads, “Compute unit rates associated with ratios of fractions, including ratios of lengths, areas and other quantities measured in like or different units.”

We are busy fixing the standards. But we have zero proof that our standards were ever broken. Can America’s academic deficiencies be laid at the door of those old standards? If so, I’ve never seen even a scintilla of proof to support that position.

In the meantime, districts all across America are buying books designed to match the new Common Core standards, reasoning that those books may be essential to surviving the new harder tests spawned by the new standards. How a harder test will help us when we had so many students unable to pass earlier, easier versions, I can’t imagine.

Eduhonesty: Just trying to keep it real. What do we have now? New standards, new books, and new tests, with the standards determining the tests and the tests determining the books. The representative marketing the book above had one main selling point: Her book had not been adapted to match the Core. They had written the whole book with the Core specifically in mind.

As we overhaul American education, we should be asking ourselves, “Who profits?”

The answer may not be, “America’s students.”