Lesson Plan #3: Back To Square 1
► To discuss if the “man in the street”, your average parent, or a university student knows what the issues are in education changes being implemented now or planned for the near future. Radical changes are called "common core standards" or 21st Century Skills, etc.
√ The “man in the street” appears clueless that anything different is happening in schools, though repeating the common perception that students can’t add or read.
√ The average parent seems overwhelmed with childcare, juggling school paperwork, providing support for homework, and only vaguely hearing about “reform”.
√ The university student likes the idea of “student-directed” studies but after Lesson #1 feels the teachers should be better prepared if students and teachers are not to get stressed.
► Recognizing that in a democracy the principle of consultation with those to be affected are to be involved — both for buy-in and for informed opinions to be applied to significant changes in social structures — we should find out if proper consultation has indeed been happening.
► What is the general state of public awareness and involvement in these changes?
Cartoonists are some of the most perceptive people around. They are always looking for contradictions, hypocrisy, corruption or downright dumb or laughable situations.
Kevin Moore, the author of the above cartoon had this to say, Oct 24, 2013, on the common core in the US, comments which would equally apply to 21st C Learning here in Canada
“As a librarian at a community college in Oregon, I am starting to see the rollout in my own state. There are a lot of questions educators have about both the standards and the support we can expect to receive from the state to implement the necessary programs. One thing that concerns me is how long this trend will last before it is abandoned for a “better” one. Buy-in at the public level is low, as parents of students and other affected communities have really no awareness or understanding of CCS . . . the public at large is rarely invited to discuss CCS; mostly it’s a top-down education reform effort that goes on quietly at the administrative level. So, really, no wonder there are conspiracy theories.” (my bold)
In his latest twitter on the topic, this is what he says:
“Kevin Moore 26 Nov I don't worry that CCSS will indoctrinate kids. I worry it's another fad that will waste time, money and alienate public from education.”
What is Kevin Moore, librarian and super cartoonist, really saying in the cartoon above?