In Conclusion, Pickled Pig's Feet

Before I start writing, I have to acknowledge that I have not read the Common Core standards that have been set for the schools in this country.  But, as usual, I have some fairly strong opinions on the matter of education and its vital importance in a democracy.  These opinions were formed by my own educational experiences in the public schools of California in the 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50’s, and then in the ‘60s and ‘70’s with my own kids. 

Fortunately for me I had some really excellent teachers, and of course, some really rotten ones.  This is par for any school system, I think.  The same held true when my own kids were in school.  They had some really outstanding teachers, and some that I refused to let some of the younger ones have.  Sorry that the elder ones had to try them out first! 

My own major in college was English Literature, and with this it was, in those days, required that we take world literature, as well, so I became at least acquainted with literature from around the world, even if it was only a nodding acquaintance.  Better that than nothing because it gave me some conception of the ideas that the ancient Greeks and Romans held, as well as ancient Sanskrit writings.  Thus I knew about ideas that they had millennia before the United States was ever a twinkle in anyone’s eye, and experiences that other civilizations had that would truly be better if we did not!  Of course, history came right alongside the literature.

What really disturbed me about the educational concepts that produced No Child Left Behind was that it did not teach children to think, at all.  They needed to memorize ‘stuff’, but that ‘stuff’ had no relation to anything else.  It did not teach if one, or a group of ones, or if a country did thus and so, there might be a final result that no one really wanted.  Or contrarily, that would benefit everyone.  These concepts were in place in some areas of our country long before No Child, etc. and could produce the idiotic statement by a southern preacher, “If the King James Bible was good enough for Jesus, its good enough for me.”  No history, no concept of when the King James Bible was written, or what the conditions were in England that caused it to be written.  A fascinating time then, for sure, and in some respects it reminds me of our own. 

My little understanding of Common Core is that its desired result is, among other things, to teach kids how to do critical thinking.  So of course the radical right is freaking out.  The last thing they would want are people who can see right through their faulty logic.  As an example, the radical right is still touting the ‘trickle down’ theory of economics.  Instead of trying to be reasonable in discussing this, we should be asking the question, “And what year are you expecting this to happen?  It has been 30 years since this became established economic policy in this country, and have you been trickled on yet?” 

There may be a lot wrong with our educational system, but it is not the teachers, but those in authority who are trying to push an economic and social agenda associated with keeping the 99% stupid, and the 1% eating high on the hog.  Frankly, I never did like pickled pig’s feet!