Common Core Reflective Essay

I have learned much in my 11 years in California public school. I learned to write in cursive; I learned my times tables; I learned the equation for a line, and I learned a thing or two about Shakespeare. However, the most important thing I learned is that is that the Common Core doesn’t work. The Common Core Standards Initiative is an approach to keep all American students on the same page. The problem is that it keeps all of us on page 1. In my AP Calculus BC class, my 13 classmates and I are piloting a Common Core textbook. At first, everyone was excited to try something new, but now we groan at the sight of the textbook. While I passed the AP test for the first year of Calculus, it has been a challenge “reviewing” these concepts in the new style. Why change a system that was proven to be successful? California, one of the last states to implement Common Core, actually made a change for the worse. Therefore, I strongly believe that the 28th amendment to the Constitution should be the nationwide abolishment of Common Core.

My first exposure to Common Core came in Algebra 2
If even my Advanced Placement classmates and I are having a difficult time adjusting, I cannot imagine what is happening in average or below average classes. Those who were behind in the original system are more than likely still behind now. Also, Common Core has an extremely narrow focus, specifically on mathematics and English. However, I believe in the importance of being well rounded in a wide variety of subject areas also including science, history, and the arts. This is precisely why I am interested in a liberal arts education, a program that will be tailored to my varying interests. I cannot wait to immerse myself in an educational community where my professors and peers are free to share their unique insights so that I can truly enjoy a multi-dimensional