Education reform must start with social reform, Furman University Education Professor Paul Thomas told an audience of more than 100 parents, grandparents, and community members during a special lecture Wednesday at the Upcountry History Museum.<\/p>\n
Thomas\u2019s lecture, \u201cWhy Everyone (Almost) is Wrong about Common Core,\u201d kicked off the High Noon series of eight consecutive lectures presented by Furman professors during the fall, which will cover topics including politics, business, history, and economics.<\/p>\n
Common Core is a controversial national standards initiative in the U.S. that details what K-12 students should know, especially in the areas of math and English, in each grade in preparation for college and the workforce.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best argument for new standards is a market argument,\u201d Thomas said, citing the profitability of educational initiatives for textbook companies and consultants.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been saying public schools are a failure since the mid-1800s . . . Education reform must be built on policies that directly address the rising social inequity in the United States,\u201d said Thomas, borrowing a quote from Martin Luther King.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are likely to find that the problems of housing and education, instead of preceding the elimination of poverty, will themselves be affected if poverty is first abolished,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
Families need stable, full-time jobs with health care and retirement benefits, and children need access to high-quality food, not just fast food, Thomas said. In addition, schools should eliminate high-stakes testing and avoid academic tracking. Children should also be given the opportunity to learn from quality, experienced teachers most of the time, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no achievement gap in the United States,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cThere is an equity gap.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taylors resident and grandparent of three Richard Jeffress said he came away from the lecture with a much better understanding of the history of Common Core.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot everyone is the same.\u201d said Jeffress. \u201cIt\u2019s going to make everyone common to the core.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Upcountry History Museum\/Furman is located at 540 Buncombe Street in downtown Greenville\u2019s Heritage Green area. All lectures are free and begin at noon on Wednesdays. A complete schedule of lectures is available on Furman\u2019s website<\/b>.<\/p>\n
For more information, contact Furman\u2019s Marketing and Public Relations office at 864-294-2185 or e-mail Marie Newman-Rogers at marie.newman-rogersfurman.edu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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