Youth’s Core Connection
When it comes to new state curriculum standards there is much to celebrate around the progress made to date and the potential that this represents.
A collaborative effort of the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the resulting Common Core State Standards Initiative is an excellent and acclaimed result. At the time of this writing only five U.S. states and two U.S. territories have yet to formally adopt this initiative.
Today there is broad reaching consensus in academia that if American children are in fact able to master this Initiative, they and our economy will both be big winners.
At Oceanseed Project we support Common Core Standards as part of our program and accomplish our mission by providing vulnerable youth communities with a tangible connection to our natural ocean environments and world. Accompanying the hands-on, student-centered curriculum in the humanities and sciences are inspired, lifelong, student-mentor relations.
Such as with anything, the concerns surrounding Common Core are worth considering. The most common criticisms involve conceding local control of our children’s education, introducing yet another new and rigid process into an already complex educational environment and the long term implications of teaching to-the-test and adhering to a seemingly narrow “one size fits all” approach.
Without question it is an admirable and logical goal for our nation to work towards a higher academic ranking in international comparison. Our ability to innovate in a globally conscientious and sustainable manner is our future and certainly no organization more than our own aspires to close the disparity in literacy achievement between vulnerable and advantaged children.
In that light it imperative that an appropriate portion of the attention and resources currently placed on teaching and testing to standards, be rightful redirected back to the most important and scientifically proven factors for success, character and soft skills development.
In fact the best scientific studies from the leading institutions and academia provide little support for the expectation that even the best, focused, implemented and budgeted standards program will, by themselves, improve student learning—unless they are part of a larger strategy.
Furthermore while Oceanseed Project advocates the benefits and science of inspiring and empowering children in a broader context as an imperative for their success and life satisfaction, it should be noted that science and history show little if any relationship between low U.S. test scores and our economic ranking. In fact since 1998 the U.S. has ranked number one or two in World Economic Forum rankings despite for the past 50 years scoring close to the bottom in U.S. Institute of Education Sciences’, International Mathematics and Science Studies tracking.
In fact research from the Brookings Institute, Brown Center on Education Policy finds virtually no relationship between the quality of state education standards and the achievement test scores of students in respective states.
Excellent standards are at their best no more than a strong first step. At their worst national education standards represent a costly homogenized education platform that takes our eye off proven, evidence-based, Nobel laureate winning, scientific strategy, globally recognized to provide the single greatest impact on successful human development and economic return on investment.
Simply raising the bar in K through twelve education doesn’t enable every child to clear it. Furthermore, on its own Common Core Standards establish little if any connection between youth and our natural world. As we have learned all to well this past decade, this human connection with nature, related individual sensibilities and scientific acumen will be primary drivers for global economic prosperity and health moving forward.
What can you? It is fun easy and free, in fact one of life’s greatest blessings. Separate from any organized sport or team activities, although they provide great benefit and joy in their own right, connect and share with a child you know.
Specifically get outside with them in whatever natural space is available to you. Play ball together, let them discover, indulge and enjoy free play, imagine, observe and explore. Unplug the cord and yes even put down the book. Be hands-on present in our world even briefly but regularly. Share observations and enjoy discussing them. Engage and watch as inspiration blooms, empowerment grows and transformation occurs.
Youth connect with curriculum when they themselves discover connection.