Early Childhood Standards of Common Core are Developmentally
Inappropriate
Child Psychologist Dr. Megan Koschnick Criticizes Common
Core Standards for K-3 as Age and Developmentally Inappropriate
Washington, D.C. – Today the American Principles
Project (APP), in conjunction with the Pioneer Institute and the Heartland
Institute, released a
video of Dr. Megan Koschnick’s presentation discussing how
certain aspects of the Common Core standards are developmentally and age
inappropriate. Dr. Koschnick gave her presentation at a September 9, 2013
conference at the University of Notre Dame. APP, Heartland, and Pioneer
sponsored the conference, entitled “The Changing Role of Education in America:
Consequences of the Common Core.”
“Why do we care if [Common Core standards] are age
inappropriate? Well, you can answer that with one word – stress,” said Dr. Megan
Koschnick during her presentation. “Instead of thinking about what’s
developmentally appropriate for kindergarteners, they are thinking [college] is
where we want this kindergartener to end up, so let’s back track down to
kindergarten and have kindergarteners work on these skills from an early age.
This can cause major stress for the child because they are not prepared for this
level of education.”
Dr. Koschnick’s presentation echoes the concerns set forth in
the Joint
Statement of Early Childhood Health and Education Professionals on the Common
Core Standards Initiative (March 2, 2010) and with the concerns set forth in
the The Answer Sheet blog in the Washington Post, entitled A
Tough Critique of Common Core on Early Childhood Education (January 29,
2013). This blog, written by Edward Miller and Nancy Carlsson-Paige,
quoted Dr. Carla Horowitz of the Yale Child Study Center as stating, “The Core
Standards will cause suffering, not learning, for many, many young
children.”
Reactions to Dr. Koschnick’s presentation at the Notre Dame
conference, by those who were in attendance, include:
Khadine Ritter of Ohio: “As a mother of two young children, I
am astounded by the irresponsibility of those in government who seemingly never
consulted child development experts to determine if these standards were age
appropriate. They are toying with a generation of students, but we won’t see
the detrimental consequences until it is too late. I hope public officials will
now do their homework and watch Dr. Koschnick’s important presentation.”
Professor Gerard Bradley of University of Notre Dame Law
School: “Many critical observers of Common Core have focused upon the
inadequate math and ELA standards at the high school end of education — and
rightly so. But, Dr. Koschnick’s arresting presentation tells us that there is
much to criticize at the front end, as well.”
APP Education Director Emmett McGroarty: “Dr. Koschnick sets
forth her concerns as a child psychologist in clear, but troubling, detail. I
urge every parent, every teacher, and every administrator to watch Dr.
Koschnick’s presentation and to read the Joint Statement and the blog article by
Mr. Miller and Ms. Carlsson-Paige.”
Heartland Institute’s Joy Pullman: “Dr. Koschnick’s analysis
makes it clear what other early childhood professionals have said: Common Core
asks small children to behave like little adults, and they are not little
adults. Anyone who cares for a small child could tell you this. This is a
further consequence of the Common Core lead writers’ lack of experience and
professional reputation, and of its committees excluding experts in early
childhood.”
Jamie Gass, Director of Pioneer Institute’s Center for School
Reform: “In addition to the weaker academic content in Common Core’s ELA and
math standards, it now appears that due to haste and inexperience Common Core’s
authors also introduce material to schoolchildren at developmentally
inappropriate ages. Given this new and troubling information drawn from Dr.
Koschnick’s analysis, it’s not difficult to see why parents and a growing number
of child psychologists across the country are up in arms over Common Core’s
deficiencies.”
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Common Core "Number Sense" for grade school. I think the answer is "C" but cannot understand the convoluted logic and why this important to teach to early math learners. |
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