Sounds like a great idea. I don't understand how multiple choice answers move anything along as they don't require critical analysis or understanding. Life isn't multiple choice as, in many instances, the choices available are not always the best solution

I suspect you would get more out of Melville and London than George Eliot. Although her work is a good read I have never really considered here to be exceptional literature. Much like Thomas Hardy who I have loved to read but for me they are both focused on the social concerns of their locale rather than greater depth. Great reads but not great literature. (I'll be in trouble from someone now no doubt!)

As a 30 year teaching veteran of high school science teaching. I tend to disagree with your statement. It's not the curriculum, even the Common Core, rather it's the parenting model whereby the schools and teachers aren't supported. We can't give homework because it will not get done. Then we get assailed by parents because their child is failing because they didn't do their homework, therefore did poorly on exams because they were unable demonstrate that they have mastered the material.

@t1nick The parents do not understand the common core so their hands are tied and are in most cases unable to help with homework. so it is a vicious circle. I have seen endless post on twitter and facebook of people saying they do not know how to help with common core homework.

@azzow2 I can understand their dilemma. I've been through a multitude of curriculums over the years. For science, the common core curriculum is pretty straightforward. It was designed to create a structure of consistency in the basic knowledge required to both; be successful in college, and to compete in a world market. The US has been falling behind in the science and math fields for a long time. The standards were written to address this deficiency. They are not perfect, but are refined and improved on a regular basis.

On a side note, the biggest group of detractors to the Common Core curriculum is coming from Christian special interest groups. The Common Core removes God from the science curriculum. So it isn't surpringly fundamentalists are raising such a rucus.

@t1nick We could go on and on about the negatives and positives what needs to be addressed is things like public computers with touters and positive reinforcement. For so long people have gotten punished for doing badly in school instead of rewarded. You might say that doing good the reward would be a good paying job. That is only good for people that can think long term, most people want short-term gratification. The old practice was to spank your pet for messing on the carpet. The newer way of thinking is to reward your pet for doing their business in the designated area. Humans are animals rewarding for doing good is way more productive than punishment.

I think the op was originally about books like in English class. But common core is a joke. When someone first told me about it, thought he was pulling my leg when he said his daughter was taught it. Then another guy said his granddaughter was being taught it. They are taught 5 + 7 = 10. I kind of get what they are getting at, I do 5 +5 in my head then add two. I know the answer is 12, not 10. Hey buddy I'm a little short this week can I borrow $5? Borrows me the $5. Couple days later "hey man can I borrow $7 I still didn't get paid". Borrows me the $7. I get paid the next day. Thanks bud, here's the $10 I owe you! Who came up with this shit Tump "university"?

@azzow2 That's sad.

Most of the common core math stuff that terrifies people, is stuff American students don't see unless they are Mathematics Majors in their junior or senior year. (Me)
I remember seeing some of these techniques thrown at us like magician slight of hand in 'number theory' class and being like "Woah Dr. David Blaine, do that again!" It was clear there are techniques out there for quick solving mathematical equations that we totally skip in our culture.

We are a society who's education system has barely evolved from the one room school house because it was good enough back then.

Saying common core is bad because parents don't get it is akin to us outlawing VCR's back in the 80s because grandpa couldn't figure out how to set the clock on the thing.

@azzow2 I understand your point. How you get to desired objective is important. I take your point and agree.

@azzow2, @TheGreatShadow I do not know about the math standards, but the science Common Core Standards make sense. I get the feeling that you looked at the example on its own without looking at the context and point that was trying to be made. I agree that the problem as you present is ridiculous. But knowing math teachers as I do, they would not teach an invalid concept. I suspect that there was a larger purpose to the problem that the child was unable to articulate to your friend, or more likely your friend had preconceived notions as to what the Common Core represented and failed to look into his granddaughter's lesson. Potentially another example of anecdotal hyperbole as opposed to real facts. Just sayin".

@t1nick I am a single dad I have 7 years old twins. My daughter is excellent at school work my son struggles with it. I have taught my self a lot of logic and common sense over time. So my practice is to pass that on to my kids. I am thinking that that kind of thinking might be becoming rarer these days. Would like to see some common sense brought to schooling. Things like knot tieing as an example a few years back I volunteered for Head Start. What I had observed then, was very few parents interact with their kids. They use school as a babysitter so they can go to work. I had observed one parent out of like 70 families that actually picked up a book and read to their kids. From this observation tells me society has put the burden of education on schooling.

@azzow2 I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments

@Gwendolyn2018 What you are saying. I totally get my friend is a constable in South Carolina and so I pay attention when something comes up in the news about South Carolina that day that student was disrespecting the teacher and the off-duty sheriff dubbing ad a school security. He dragged the student out of the classroom then later was terminated. This just shows how powerless teacher are kids disrespecting and just get away with it. They need new ideas.

@Gwendolyn2018 they don't choose the curriculum, but are given options with the books. I know my teachers did, but that may have been something that principle allowed.

Yeah, but when I went to school the "Thick" boys did "Woodwork & Metalwork" and the "Boffins" did Physics. If they had taught them together for the last 40 years then the UK would have the best Technicians and Engineers in the world. ( which, now we hardly produce anything -Coal, Steel,shipbuilding etc all gone) just may be a good thing.

Certainly agree there. Not sure how to justify courses on The Divine Comedy or Dostoevsky or even T.S. Eliot currently. A tragedy, but if those of us who have the time and inclination can share our delight in art, literature etc. with interested individuals, the Classics can still sing out their eternal message!

Thanks Kimba, some good works there

You DO seem to have a violent streak.