Conservatives trade standards for politics
In 2010, South Carolina accepted a program called Common Core, a collection of national education standards meant to take effect in 2014. Forty-five states have chosen to participate in this program alongside our state, which means that students can be measured against other students in the same age range throughout the United States. The new standards focus more on building skills for students who are interested in college and careers, rather than solely looking at the acquisition of more traditional knowledge.
Educators are already being trained on the new standards and many support of the system. Conservatives, however, are stepping out against them. They are willing to throw away the time, money and resources spent already on the transition.
I have a feeling that Republicans are less worried about our children and more concerned with preserving the old glory of states’ rights. Many of them are supporters of the “vote with your feet” system — namely, if you don’t like the way a state handles something, then you should leave.
This antiquated school of thought is nothing if not destructive. They are willing to put what is better for our children aside for a set of ideals they want to hold on to.
Our current system is failing. It’s time to step up and worry about bettering education, not politicizing the environment further.
We need to do what is best for the children; keep politics out of the classroom.