Ever look at your degree evaluation and think to yourself, “Man, if I didn’t have to take that math/science/random class about trees my GPA would be through the roof.” The reason you can’t actually start taking classes that actually have to do with your major until the end of sophomore year is due to something called the “Common Core Standards.”
It is not just a Westfield State University quirk, like the frustrating WiFi that never seems to work. Most liberal arts colleges require core classes from the four main academic areas: English, math, social studies, and science. But when you are a science student being forced to take a "History of Magic" class just to fulfill a history requirement, then common cores seem like a dumb and frustrating concept. When you are a politician or member of the Board of Higher Education, then common core seems like a great concept.
What are the pros of common core? What are the cons?
Well, speaking from personal experience, being forced to take common core classes has exposed me to subjects and classes that I might not have willingly chosen to take. As a result of this exposure, I have discovered new passions and skills in myself that I never would have found otherwise. Common core classes also create well-rounded students, better preparing them for a complicated world. Due to common core, universities also receive money from the state that they can invest in their students to further their collegiate experience.
These all sound like good things right?
But nothing is perfect.
There are many problems with the common core. While it is meant to prepare students to succeed in the real world, this success is not spread evenly. The Common Core Standards cannot be tailored to all the diverse populations in our nation. In addition, these standards cause many amazing teachers to retire/leave rather than adjust their teaching style. The common core is impersonal: it does not take into account that it will be affecting actual students with different learning styles and needs. Standardizing anything will always create a group who will be excluded.
I feel as if the common core is a good idea in that it exposes students to things that they may learn they have a passion for. But honestly, while the common core has benefits, I feel that its risks are too great. But, rather than get rid of it, it should be altered on a more personal level. Think about it this way: a freshman just out of high school gets to college, is told that he has to take all these core classes before he can actually start taking classes pertaining to his major. He does this for a semester, hates every class, thinks that this is what the next four years are going to be like, and decides dropping out of school is preferable to this hell. So maybe one solution would be taking common core junior and senior year, and taking major-related classes’ freshman and sophomore year?
Either way, I am still not too sure about the common core.
