In K-12 education, Common Score has routinely proved controversial. In this episode of Intelligence Squared, panelists debate the merits of the national academic standards.
Adopted by more than 40 states, they were developed, in part, to address concerns that American students were falling behind their foreign counterparts and graduating high-school without the necessary skills for college and the workforce. But many wonder if this is the reform we've truly been looking for. The federal government has been accused of overreaching their boundaries and saddling schools with flawed standards testing from the start. Others argue that Common Core raises the bar and improves the overall quality of education in the United States.
Panelists for the motion include:
- Carmel Martin, Executive VP, Center for American Progress, and Former Assistant Secretary of Education
- Michael Petrilli, President, Fordham Institute, and Co-Editor of Knowledge At The Core
Panelists against the motion include:
- Carol Burris, Principal, South Side High School, and Blogger for Washington Post's "Answersheet"
- Frederick Hess, Resident Scholar and Director of Educational Policy Studies, AEI
Airs Saturday, September 20 at 6am on 93.9FM and 7am and 2pm on AM 820
This episode of Intelligence Squared comes on the heels of four weeks of education specials from American RadioWorks aired on WNYC. You can revisit these episodes below:
- The Science Of Smart: learn about some of the big ideas coming out of brain science
- The Challenge Of The Common Core: how the standards are changing teaching and learning
- The New Face Of College: a look at under-served populations and identities in the American college system
- Ready To Work: how vocational education is being re-imagined
Watch the debate: