Why isn't Common Core an issue in the Democratic debates?

[Renew Deal]

I've watched every debate and I'm pretty sure every forum where all the candidates appeared. They have not been asked about it, and yet it is an issue in the republican debates. Is free college tuition eating up all the time for education? It's about time to ask some different questions.

[frazzled]

1. Because it's Tea Party red meat

If you're frothing about Common Core, you're in the wrong primary.

I have a nephew who is a math professor (a very gay math professor, I'm proud to say), and has a daughter in first grade, so he's seeing common core math up close. He thinks it's great.

[Renew Deal]

2. I'm in NY. It is a major statewide and local issue.

From the school district level to the state house and the governor. And NY is hardly a teabagger paradise.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. The people in my family with kids in school think it sucks

Especially the math, where simple addition and subtraction problems are turned into complicated equations.

[basselope]

3. What is the big deal with Common Core?

When my kid first started bringing home assignments that were based in Common Core, I felt I had to relearn math a little, but very quickly I saw how much more efficient some of the methods were for solving problems.

Progressive private schools have been using similar methods for years now.

[Renew Deal]

5. There are usually at least 6 lines of complaint

Some people complain about loss of local control.
People with older kids complain that their kids were thrown into it unprepared.
Testing. Testing. Testing. Testing. Testing. Testing.
Teachers are evaluated on the tests. (and there's tons of issues related just to this)
Teachers teach to the tests instead of teaching to educate
The tests are unpassable which helps Pearson sell materials.
And I know I'm missing some

[basselope]

6. Those complaints seem more about implementation

One of my closest friends is a biology teacher at the Brooklyn High School of Science and his only real complaint about it is the testing component... but these are local issues rather than national

[Renew Deal]

8. Common Core is a nationally driven program

[basselope]

9. But it is state implemented

[Renew Deal]

10. Does Bernie support Common Core?

[basselope]

11. no idea...

On my personal list of issues that would rank somewhere below whether he has boxers or briefs

[Renew Deal]

12. That's why it needs to be asked.

And we have seen it get a good amount of attention on DU.

[basselope]

13. A quick Google search suggested that he's OK with the standards but not with the testing

[d_r]

7. I would like to see

The whole corporate ed refer agenda get more attention, I'd like to see high stakes testing get more attention.