When I think of the Common Core State Standards, I think of the Common school period in the United States, which took place during the mid-1800s. Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States, argued that every citizen should be entitled to a basic education—a common education.
Nonetheless, Horace Mann turned Jefferson's idea into reality by creating the Common school—the first public schools in the United States. You all must be asking yourselves the following questions: Why is the Common school being talked about? What does it have to do with the Common Core State Standards?
Well, the main goal of the Common school was to educate its citizens. For that reason, I urge all future educators to realize that the Common Core State Standards have two main goals: which are to continue, as well as perfect what Jefferson and Mann began back in the late 1700s and 1800s—deliver a common education to all students.
The Common Core State Standards revolve around the history of trying to capture and codify a body of knowledge that all students must know.
Therefore, it can also be argued that the idea of having educational standards is not new in the United States, especially since it can be traced back to Jefferson and Mann.
For that reason, it can firmly be argued that the Common Core State Standards exist because of the Common school period. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is a state-led initiative to ensure that students leave school with the knowledge and skills required to succeed in college and in their careers.
Nonetheless, a teacher's main goal should be to deliver a high-quality education to all of his or her students. For that reason, I support the Common Core State Standards, especially since its main goal is to prepare students for a successful college career.
Is it safe for me to argue that in the next 20 years the high school and college graduation rates will increase tremendously?
This can be argued of course, if the outcome of the implementations of the standards result in success from state-to-state. Success meaning that the students are learning.
When I first learned about the Common Core State Standards, I did not approve of it, nor did I want to see states adopt the standards, mainly because of its implementation process. However, today, with my two years of experience in the field of education, I see the Common Core State Standards as the golden key to a successful college career.
For example, first-year college students are required to take the ACCUPLACER tests before registering for classes. The main goal of these tests is to assess the student's knowledge in math, reading and writing. The assessments identify the student's strengths and weaknesses in each subject area.
Therefore, it can be argued that in the future, high school seniors should be able to receive passing scores on the ACCUPLACER tests, especially since the math, reading and writing tests are designed based on the content that the students were taught during their elementary, middle and high school years.
In the next couple of years, I am looking forward to delivering a high-quality education to all of my students—with the Common Core State Standards as my assistants.
