At today’s regularly scheduled meeting the PJSTA’s Representative. Council unanimously voted to approve the following resolution to oppose the Common Core State Standards. The resolution will be submitted to the AFT and NYSUT for consideration from those parent unions.
Resolution to Oppose the Common Core State Standards
WHEREAS, the purpose of education is to educate a populace of critical
thinkers who are capable of shaping a just and equitable society in
order to lead good and purpose-filled lives, not solely preparation
for college and career; and
WHEREAS, instructional and curricular decisions should be in the hands
of classroom professionals who understand the context and interests of
their students; and
WHEREAS, the education of children should be grounded in
developmentally appropriate practice; and
WHEREAS, high quality education requires adequate resources to provide
a rich and varied course of instruction, individual and small group
attention, and wrap-around services for students; and
WHEREAS, the Common Core State Standards were developed by
non-practitioners, such as test and curriculum publishers, as well as
education reform foundations, such as the Gates and Broad Foundations,
and as a result the CCSS better reflect the interests and priorities
of corporate education reformers than the best interests and
priorities of teachers and students; and
WHEREAS, the Common Core State Standards were piloted incorrectly,
have been implemented too quickly, and as a result have produced
numerous developmentally inappropriate expectations that do not
reflect the learning needs of many students; and
WHEREAS, imposition of the Common Core State Standards adversely
impacts students of highest need, including students of color,
impoverished students, English language learners, and students with
disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Common Core State Standards emphasize pedagogical
techniques, such as close reading, out of proportion to the actual
value of these methods – and as a result distort instruction and
remove instructional materials from their social context; and
WHEREAS, despite the efforts of our union to provide support to
teachers, the significant time, effort, and expense associated with
modifying curricula to the Common Core State Standards interferes and
takes resources away from work developing appropriate and engaging
courses of study; and
WHEREAS, the assessments that accompany the Common Core State
Standards (PARCC and Smarter Balance) are not transparent in that
–teachers and parents are not allowed to view the tests and item
analysis will likely not be made available given the nature of
computer adaptive tests; and
WHEREAS, Common Core assessments disrupt student learning, consuming
tremendous amounts of time and resources for test preparation and
administration; and
WHEREAS, the assessment practices that accompany Common Core State
Standards – including the political manipulation of test scores – are
used as justification to label and close schools, fail students, and
evaluate educators; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the PJSTA opposes the Common Core State Standards (and
the aligned tests) as a framework for teaching and learning; and be it
further
RESOLVED, the PJSTA advocates for an engaged and socially relevant
curriculum that is student-based and supported by research and be it
further
RESOLVED, the PJSTA will embark on internal discussions to educate and
seek feedback from members regarding the Common Core and its impact on
our students; and be it further
RESOLVED, the PJSTA will lobby the NYS Board of Education to eliminate
the use of the Common Core State Standards for teaching and
assessment; and be it further
RESOLVED, the PJSTA will organize other members and affiliates to
increase opposition to the Common Core State Standards; and be it
further
RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the NY State Board
of Education, the Governor of NYS, and all members of the NYS
legislative branch; and be it finally
RESOLVED, that should this resolution be passed by the PJSTA
Representative Council, an appropriate version will be submitted to
the American Federation of Teachers for consideration at the 2014
Convention and to NYSUT for consideration at the 2015 RA.
Recent Comments