Joey-Lehrman
Although approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) in 2010, the adoption of the Common Core curriculum is beginning to ignite controversy amongst students, teachers, parents, and administrators.
Click here to learn about the Federal Common Core State Standards initiative.
The national standards are designed to increase the rigor and academic performance of our nation’s students in math, reading, and writing. As Louisiana has now begun rolling out the new standards, including statewide tests that reflect the rigor of the Common Core (which will take effect fully with national assessments in 2015), many schools are starting to adopts some of the standards now. And some schools, like John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Lake Charles, are doing their part to educate the public about what must be done now to prepare for the switch in a few years.
The principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Lake Charles, Dinah Robinson, saw so much confusion among parents that her school hosts Common Core training sessions for mothers and fathers about twice a month — turning the parents into learners.
Click here to access Common Core coverage in The Advocate.
As a lifelong New Orleans resident and public school teacher, I have experience many forms of resistance to change. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that the resistance is usually born out of uncertainty rather than substantive issues. So, let’s all learn about the Common Core and what it means for our students and schools before we draw any conclusions.
Sincerely,
Joey Lehrman
Joey Lehrman 