K-12 Curriculum Development

View this article at http://www.aft.org/topics/sbr/index.htm
Source: American Federation of Teachers

"Imagine the outrage if, say, the Pittsburgh Steelers had to move the ball the full 10 yards for a first down during the Super Bowl while the Arizona Cardinals had to go only seven. Imagine if this scenario were sanctioned by the National Football League. Such a system would be unfair and preposterous. But there is little outrage over the uneven patchwork of academic standards for students in our 50 states and the District of Columbia."

Questions for Educators:

1.  Is it ethical for ten year olds in Michigan to receive a different set of
     educational standards/goals than students in Mississippi?

2.  Should states continue to set different standards or should states adopt a set
     of Common Standards? 

3.  What role should the Federal Government play in establishing state
     standards?

4.  Should states set standards and develop state assessments which measure
     what students should know and be able to do?  Does our nation need
     students with a common skill set or students with different levels of
     understanding based on the state where they attended high school?

5.  Are standards a script to follow?  Do standards force teachers to utilize
     strategies such as curricular reductionism, teaching to the test, and the
     elimination of creative thinking and teaching for understanding?

6.  What does K-12 education look like in the absence of common standards?

7.  If our nation wants to prepare students for life and work in a global economy,
     what should students know and be able to do?