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Fwd: Poetry and common core
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From: Ruth I. Gordon <Druthgo_at_sonic.net>
Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 16:42:50 -0700
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Ruth I. Gordon <Druthgo_at_sonic.net>
> Date: April 7, 2014 2:42:58 PM PDT
> To: CCBC Net <ccbc-net_at_ccbc.education.wisc.edu>
> Cc: bookmarch_at_aol.com
> Subject: Poetry and common core
>
> I must respectfully disagree with Marc A. re: Common Core and poetry, studio art, orchestral music, so-called
> art and music appreciation, wood shop, home ec. (all of which we had in elementary school as well as
> foreign languages)--other such nonsense that added to our lives. When teachers must teach to the
> c.c., tests, and too often their employment is based on test results, something must be skipped. Poetry is
> one of those nonessentials unless it can be jammed into standard tests which yield "yes" and "no,"
> mathematical results. Case in point: on my GRE one very large question dealt with a Gerard Manly
> Hopkins (no. not Lee) poems I had been contemplating for a few years. The responses GRE
> preferred were not based on my subjective experience (for often poetry is subjective in its
> meaning). That I was admitted to graduate school may be poetic justice. I could answer
> matters of meter, rhyme forms and the like.
>
> Teaching to test leaves little time and energy for activities which are not included in the
> quantitative results of a black-and-white world. Marc has a quite different opinion
> than I about this new dangerous reliance on how we educate. I am fairly sure that
> had we been forced to test, I would have either not done it (and have been canned)
> or simply quit.
>
> Once again I ask: why do we so dislike our youth in this country?
>
> Please read the letter: http://dianeravitch.net/2014/03/25/massachusetts-kindergarten-teacher-i-quit/
>
> I know Marc believes that librarians, students, and teachers will walk hand in hand to
> make the common core successful. Perhaps in some place where school librarians
> still work in school libraries, it might be true. As for my state, nope.
>
> But the topic is interesting and maybe younger people will disagree with me. Good-
> convince me and I'll change my mind.
>
> Big Grandma
> (Ruth I. Gordon, etc., etc.)
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Received on Mon 07 Apr 2014 06:43:16 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 16:42:50 -0700
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Ruth I. Gordon <Druthgo_at_sonic.net>
> Date: April 7, 2014 2:42:58 PM PDT
> To: CCBC Net <ccbc-net_at_ccbc.education.wisc.edu>
> Cc: bookmarch_at_aol.com
> Subject: Poetry and common core
>
> I must respectfully disagree with Marc A. re: Common Core and poetry, studio art, orchestral music, so-called
> art and music appreciation, wood shop, home ec. (all of which we had in elementary school as well as
> foreign languages)--other such nonsense that added to our lives. When teachers must teach to the
> c.c., tests, and too often their employment is based on test results, something must be skipped. Poetry is
> one of those nonessentials unless it can be jammed into standard tests which yield "yes" and "no,"
> mathematical results. Case in point: on my GRE one very large question dealt with a Gerard Manly
> Hopkins (no. not Lee) poems I had been contemplating for a few years. The responses GRE
> preferred were not based on my subjective experience (for often poetry is subjective in its
> meaning). That I was admitted to graduate school may be poetic justice. I could answer
> matters of meter, rhyme forms and the like.
>
> Teaching to test leaves little time and energy for activities which are not included in the
> quantitative results of a black-and-white world. Marc has a quite different opinion
> than I about this new dangerous reliance on how we educate. I am fairly sure that
> had we been forced to test, I would have either not done it (and have been canned)
> or simply quit.
>
> Once again I ask: why do we so dislike our youth in this country?
>
> Please read the letter: http://dianeravitch.net/2014/03/25/massachusetts-kindergarten-teacher-i-quit/
>
> I know Marc believes that librarians, students, and teachers will walk hand in hand to
> make the common core successful. Perhaps in some place where school librarians
> still work in school libraries, it might be true. As for my state, nope.
>
> But the topic is interesting and maybe younger people will disagree with me. Good-
> convince me and I'll change my mind.
>
> Big Grandma
> (Ruth I. Gordon, etc., etc.)
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Received on Mon 07 Apr 2014 06:43:16 PM CDT
