Renewed Debate Over Common Core Repeal Bill
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There was a lot of passion as people took to the microphone to say what they think is best for the state’s children.
Senator Rusty Glover wants to repeal the standards, which are part of Alabama’s education plan.
But Assistant State Superintendent Jeff Langham says it would repeal the entire plan and send Alabama back over ten years.
“It means that all schools in Alabama under those federal regulations would be failing schools. It would certainly put us right back into what we want to escape from, huge federal over reach,” said Langham.
But some are worried the standards are having a negative impact on the state’s children.
A lot of the the subjects like math are very different from what parents and teachers are used to. Amber Polk has a student in school in Alabaster and she’s concerned about the new tests.
“The ACT Aspire, the ACT suite of tests that we are mandated to do now, that’s been the biggest concern from educators and parents alike. Students feel a lot of pressure. Students as young as 6 are crying over test anxiety. Some of those issues are what are really troubling as a parent,” said Polk.
One of the biggest supporters of the standards is Alabama’s teacher of the year Ann Marie Corgill. She even had some of her students join her to show that the standards don’t force how she teachers.
“The standards are like an endpoint for us, a place that we want to take children. And it’s not a one size fits all thing because if you look at these kids here they all have different needs, different strengths and challenges and I want to give them an opportunity to grow in a way they most benefit from the work we do in class,” said Corgill.
