Common Core
vs. Classical Education
As a teacher in a school that is adopting the Common Core
standards, I was introduced to them rather early and with a decidedly positive
bent. I have also, in preparation for
opening (God willing) a classical academy, been learning as much as I can about
classical education, not having been educated according to that method myself
as a child.
I am not an expert on either Common
Core or classical education, although I expect I could discuss them both with
reasonable knowledge and intelligence.
There is plenty to say about them, but what I want to contrast in this
article are certain key philosophies underlying both, at least as I understand
them.
Anyone who has been paying attention
to the Common Core controversy has heard the complaint that, among other
things, Common Core steers away from literary texts, and toward non-fiction,
technical texts. Another complaint has
been the supposed lowered expectations for math in the higher grades.
These things are products of a basic
philosophy of education that the Common Core standards put into practice. It sees education almost exclusively as a
means for economic achievement. The
purpose of education, the philosophy says, is to create citizens with the
ability to contribute to the economy and provide for themselves financially as
adults.
Therefore, Shakespeare and
trigonometry, for most people, are superfluous.
“Why does a truck driver need to know Shakespeare?” I’ve heard it
said. College is the time to specialize. Those interested in literature will explore
it then. Those who pursue a career with
higher level mathematics can master trigonometry; the rest of us need not be
bothered with it.
To be fair, these opinions are not
universal among educators, even those promoting the Common Core. And many districts may choose to go beyond
the standards. Certainly Catholic
dioceses will have more freedom to decide how to implement the standards, if
they do.
The philosophy, however, is in stark
contrast to that exemplified by classical education. To a classical educator, education is about
much more than economic achievement; it is about human formation. He believes that there is a certain education
that is fitting for all people, necessary for responsible citizenship, and
worthy of a child of God.
The liberal arts, as taught in
classical education, should create well-rounded students. A comprehensive
education is necessary for all students, regardless of their future
profession. A classical educator would
answer the question, “Why does a truck driver need to know Shakespeare?” with,
“It may not benefit truck driving to know Shakespeare, but it benefits human
persons.”
A career is what we do. But everyone deserves the opportunity to be
an educated person. This is the
philosophy behind classical education.
(The addition of Catholicism to classical education completes the
program.)
This is not to say that modern “Common
Core” educators are not interested in their students being truly educated
people. But the system in which they are
operating, in my opinion, does not encourage it. Parents have many things to consider when it
comes to the education of their children, and the philosophy behind that
education is one of the fundamentals.
All parents would do well to learn about the Common Core, inquire as to
how their district or their diocese will be implementing it, and prayerfully consider
supporting a return to the classical approach to education.
Note: Though I do not support the Common Core
standards, I recognize that Catholic dioceses, with more freedom than public
schools, may use what they find profitable from the standards, discard what
they find objectionable, and supplement with other beneficial materials. This post is meant as a reflection, perhaps
even a challenge to parents and educators alike, but not as a criticism of any
diocese or school district.
