From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:59:15 -0500

The New York Times article that Marc Aronson referenced yesterday has one statement that underscores a huge fear I have (and that Lynn Rutan already alluded to in what she is hearing from teachers). The article is about the Core Knowledge curriculum, not to be confused with Common Core Standards. But regarding Common Core Standards it states:

"The curriculum may have a particular appeal for city schools beginning to adopt the Common Core standards, which emphasize nonfiction reading and will go into effect in 2014. The Education Department plans to solicit bids from companies interested in creating textbooks, for students of all grades, that will be based on the standards."

So what's going to happen with wonderful trade non-fiction when school districts--strapped for $$, eliminating library media specialist positions right and left, and struggling to figure out the best way to put Common Core into practice--have the option of purchasing textbooks or "programs" (just wait--they'll be coming) designed to meet their Common Core needs. Please insert my skepticism here, or just call my cynical, but I have been waiting and wondering to see who is going to make money off of this, and the answer--as always--will be the textbook companies.

You can read the article at:

Megan

-- Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706

608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu

www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Wed 14 Mar 2012 08:59:15 AM CDT