Message from the Superintendent October 21, 2014 As the weather begins to slowly change and autumn descends upon us, I find myself ruminating over the state of our District as our students, parents, teachers, and administrators contend with all of the changes we’ve encountered, especially those dealing with Common Core. When there is any dramatic change in curriculum there is always a sense of anxiety and consternation. For those of us old enough to remember, in the 1960’s we were bombarded with what was then known as the “New Math” which was taught in American elementary schools. Many saw this as an attempt to answer the perceived threat of the Sputnik crisis from Russia and was designed to boost the mathematical and science skills of American children. Parents were concerned at the time that they did not understand what their children were learning and could not help them with their homework (Hmmm…does this sound familiar?). Thirty years later, in the 1990’s education reform was driven by the “academic standards” emphasis. This movement called for clear and measurable outcomes for all students. But some parents (and critics) have questioned whether a movement like “No Child Left Behind” was realistic in expecting all children to perform at the levels of those who were the most academically talented. And now there is Common Core and we hear some of the same laments from school communities across the land. But as Superintendent, believe it or not, I am not concerned. If history shows us anything, it clearly says that the educators in our District always rise to any occasion and will never allow our students to lag or fall behind. It may take a couple of years for everyone to become attuned to the intricacies of Common Core, but once that occurs, our students will again soar academically as they always have in our District, a district which has always been known for its academic prowess. Our teachers, site administrators, and classified staff are second to none in providing an exemplary education to our youth. Though there will be the inevitable hiccups and detours along this Common Core journey, I implore all of us to be patient and steadfast in our resolve to continue to provide the optimum educational opportunities to our students. In working together as we always have, we will slay the “Common Core dragon” until such a time comes when there is another new reform that becomes a part of the educational landscape.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:53:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015