Why I Don't Want to Be Common

Most states in our great nation have recently adopted the “Common Core Standards”. I have recently done quite a lot of reading about these standards in preparation to be a co-presenter on the implementation of the standards at my school. I have no doubt that the intent of those who developed these standards was good. We all want all students across our country to develop reading, language, and math skills that will allow them to reach their college or career goals. We all want teachers and parents to have clear and focused goals for their children. Although these standards are not perfect they are laudable and manageable academic goals I suppose.

But…. I don’t want to be “common” and I don’t want my students to be either. Common means “pertaining or belonging equally to an entire community" (dictionary.com) I have been teaching a long time and have had hundreds of students. There is no “common” student nor is there a “common” teacher! Each one brings a unique personality and a unique set of abilities. Teaching and learning is about bringing each student up as far as possible in the time I have with them. Teaching and learning is about creating an environment where individualism, inventiveness, creativity, freedom of thought and ideas are valued. Teaching and learning is about authentic interaction between teachers and students that cannot be legislated or mandated or assessed by a national set of standards.