Evaluation Station Blog!: Common Core? Keep Calm and Carry On!

     So what is this "Common Core" thing everyone is talking about and how will it effect our homeschooling? Not that I'm an expert, but I will offer what I have found out so far and give you my opinion as to how we, as the homeschooling community, should respond. (In order to deflect some of the bad press, Florida has now renamed this plan, "The New Sunshine State Standards" in order to make everyone think it is just a revision of the old plan. A rose by any other name... or I guess, in this case, a stink weed.)
     The best information I could find is a very detailed, five part assessment of this educational plan on YouTube. I offer these links to you so that you can take the time to learn more about the details of this plan for yourself.

Stop the Common Core,
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

     I cannot imagine how anyone could not be alarmed after watching those presentations. It makes me angry and extremely sad to see this socialistic attempt by our government to create a nation of common workers. Replacing some of our classic literature with menus and manuals is completely unacceptable. Business people creating a math program with the input of but one mathematics teacher is unacceptable. I can't say I'm surprised. If I wasn't homeschooling before, I certainly would be now!
     After working in the public school system for the first six years of my professional life, and watching from the sidelines since then, I have seen a lot of desperate attempts to fix a system which is beyond repair. Children are individuals and cannot be mass educated. But this goes beyond that basic fact. This is an attempt to kill off individualism once and for all and produce a nation of dumbed down working class who will be easily controlled by their government. Creativity will no longer be welcome in the classroom as teachers are required to not stray from the curriculum... even if it is not working. States that adopt this Common Core program will not be able to opt out of it. If it doesn't work... there is no one to call. Why would a state be inclined to lock itself into such a situation? Funding and pure fear.
     I want to point out something extremely obvious. Homeschooling works. What we are doing with our children is working just fine, thank you. We treat them as precious individuals, uniquely designed by God. We educate them using curriculum that is aligned with those values. We have the freedom to compare them to their own progress ... and not to other children, because the goal is not conformity- it is individuality- something that is very undesirable and inconvenient in the public school setting. They may laud the credits of a stand out individual now and then, but too many "individuals" really clogs up their well oiled machine.
Most of the changes which occur in the public school system do not effect us in the homeschooling community. This one has the potential to... IF we let it. The threat stems from changes that will be made in the SAT and ACT exams, as they will be adapted to comply with "Common Core." In response to this, SOME producers of homeschool curriculum have chosen to realign their product with Common Core objectives. This really disappoints me. Do we really need to replicate something that we have already rejected? Shame on those curriculum providers! And kudos to those who know why we homeschool in the first place, and are staying the course with the curriculum we have loved and trusted for years. Bravo! And, in case you are interested, HERE is a list of those curriculum providers. I encourage you to offer them positive feedback as they bravely carry on in the face of all this "Common Core" controversy.
     And THAT is exactly what ALL of us must do. In the tradition of the popular British quote, "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON!" For the sake of our children, we cannot be shaken by every new thing the government comes up with to implement in the public school system just to help them save face. What homeschoolers are doing IS working. And there is an American saying that also applies here, "If it ain't broke... don't fix it!" I encourage you to continue to stand as examples of excellence and consistency. Do NOT change your curriculum if it is working well for you and your family, just to comply with "Common Core." If history is any indicator, "Common Core" will fall by the wayside when the next "new thing" comes along... and believe me, it WILL come along.

When it is time for your students to take the SAT and/or the ACT, there will be plenty of new big fat books they can buy to study prior to the test, just as there are now. Many students don't even have to take either one of those exams to get in to college! Choosing your curriculum path based on the goal of eventually doing well on the SAT/ACT is foolish. Curriculum should be chosen with prayerful consideration and because of its value in molding and shaping our children, not only academically, but with truth and excellence of character. It is the leading of the Lord we need to continue to follow, not the government, and not the public school system.The Boble says it best in Proverbs 3:5-6 (New King James Version -NKJV)

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths.

There are three other scriptures that come to mind regarding this issue that I would offer for your consideration...

2 Chronicles 20:17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

Exodus 14:13

New International Version (NIV)

¹³Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.