I believe the Common Core curriculum is a disaster. It telescopes learning far too quickly, forces teachers to move rapidly, teach to the test, and worst of all frustrates students to the extent that school is no longer a place children want to go.
Math and science topics which were taught in grades 10 and 11 are now attempted in grades seven and eight. Other than a select few who will succeed at the accelerated pace and the far more challenging work teachers must rush through, many middle schoolers will fall by the wayside.
We are not Singapore and cannot frustrate and defeat an entire generation of students with this insane policy. Talk to teachers, see how they feel. Better yet, talk to students who in the past were interested in school and worked hard.
Today, parents can’t even help with science and math without having a degree in those subjects as the work has become intensely difficult and what is taught is no longer “being caught” by many struggling youngsters because of this disaster called Common Core curriculum. Clearly this program must be modified.
Ronald Birenkrant
Marlboro