Stop Common Core in NH monitors and participates in discussions on Common Core. We listen to parents and teachers all across the country, research and post information to help others fully understand what this reform is all about.
We wanted share a conversation that was recently posted on one of the NUMEROUS face-book pages opposing Common Core.
Below is an original post from a dad and then the replies he received from other parents experiencing the same struggles with their children. A big concern we have for children experiencing this kind of cognitive child abuse, what if they don’t have a responsible and caring “dad” like this one?
It’s important to listen to the frustration from parents. We’ve heard this from students and teachers but the frustration parents are experiencing is equally important.
Teachers are fleeing the profession. Parents are pulling their kids out of public schools. It’s almost as if the reformers set out to destroy public schools in America. The question would be: WHY?
Dad: On a sad Common Core note… I was doing math homework with Samantha (7) yesterday. Things were going good and I was happily surprised at how quick she was adding two double digit numbers, even with carrying of the “1”. Finally…my kind of math. Easy, quick and intelligent. Then it came to a halt when we turned the page. Now they wanted her to add the double digit numbers using such an asinine way. I forgot to take a picture of it, but it was so stupidly confusing for me, let alone a 7 year old. Her eyes watered up as she started hitting herself in the head. I was crushed. I threw her math book in her backpack and hugged her until she calmed down. I wrote a note to the teacher telling her that I will be having her skip any homework problems that cause such a reaction. Does it really have to be like this???
REPLY: Sent a note home on part of HW last night (grade 5) that the estimation of divisors and quotients frustrated my child to the point of tears. Entire class failed test #2, my child told me.
REPLY: Third grade is worse. It is a very sad statement about what this garbage is doing to our kids confidence. My son used to love math, now hates it.
REPLY: My son is only in first grade and he hates school because of the hw. :(( and so do I
REPLY: I was given advice by my then 7th grade principal who has two sons of his own. He said as a father he had to seriously weigh the issues with homework vs. his child’s final grade. As a father he was willing to allow his child to opt out of some of the homework and taking a lower grade. I’ve heeded that advice for my son.
REPLY: Hugs for you both. A child should NEVER have to feel that frustrated over something that could be so simple. What you described is them dishing out pure cognitive child abuse. You definitely did the right thing.
REPLY: And still, I’ve heard so many high level engineers and accountants and such say that if they, or anyone in their employ, took this long to do simple math in such an asinine way, they’d be fired. What does the government think they are preparing our kids for? TWO year colleges. TRADE schools. I’m not against those things, but it’s as if that is all our kids can hope for now. Kudos to all you parents that refuse to let your children be hurt by these ‘government approved’ methods. After all, our government is doing such wonders with everything else put in front of them.