I’ve been reading articles on low teacher morale in regards to Common Core, and if I were to internalize all the negative feedback, feelings, and opinions on this topic, I’d be really discouraged. Teachers across many states have already decided Common Core isn’t working. I don’t know how we can decide something doesn’t work when it hasn’t been fully implemented. I’m puzzled by the idea that national standards that help us make sure we are meeting the needs of our students are problematic. How can ensuring our students are college and career ready by following a technology-driven pedagogy be ineffective? I believe the bigger issue is a resistance to change. If that is truly the case, then the bigger question becomes how do we instill a spirit of change and flexibility in an industry (education) that is as old as our nation?

I read that some believe that the new exams (PAARC or SBAC) are “too hard.” Really? If we lower our expectations of students, will that become a self-fulfilling prophecy?

People say that we need to change education to better meet the needs of our students. Here’s my question to you: How can we improve our schools if every change we introduce is doomed to failure at the onset?

My answer to this question? I stay the course. Call me an optimist. Call me disconnected. I think change is good. It forces us to rethink our assumptions. It encourages us to take risks. So what if it doesn’t work and all of the naysayers are right? Then we teach our kids another important lesson-how to try, perhaps fail, and learn from it.

(quote attributed to Fred Devito/Image courtesy of mrpuen at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)