Common Core Test Results Are In, Here's Where Student Stack Up Now

The results are in and Common Core is looking worse than it ever has. I don't why anyone ever thought that this new system of learning was going to help, especially when it comes to the math portion. If you've ever seen Common Core math explained, it is overly complex. I've always said if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But that's what the government decided to try and do anyway.

There is a standard principle that governs how well someone knows something and that is the ability to explain it in the most simple terms. If someone can really explain it to a 10-year-old, then they really have a good grasp on it. But when you have to start drawing boxes in order to do a simple math problem and add extra steps, it's not going to go over so well.

According to The Western Journal,

The students’ reading assessment paints a grim picture of educational readiness, with tested fourth and eighth graders failing to best the previous test’s results.

This year’s results were only marginally better than those from 1992.

The mathematics scores show the most damning results — an upward trend until the year 2015, when the momentum seemed to grind to a halt. Although there were double-digit gains since the ’90s, fourth graders only managed to score a single point above their previous tests.

Eighth graders failed to meet that low standard, sinking below their predecessors from two years before.

“This must be America’s wake-up call,” DeVos said. “We cannot abide these poor results any longer. We can neither excuse them away nor simply throw more money at the problem.”

The dip doesn’t seem to be without cause, either. By 2015, most states had implemented some form of Common Core standards, according to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Studies have linked Common Core to declining test scores and generally poor student performance.

There are better ways of doing math. Common Core doesn't help at all, it's very clear. Go back to the old ways of doing math, but take it a step further. Teach children shortcuts to doing various math problems because they do exist.

I employ a number of shortcuts myself when doing math. For example, let's say you have a problem that is 520 x 40. There is a simple way of doing that in your head. First, add a zero on the end of 520 to make it 5200 which is 520 x 10. Now double it. You now have 1040. That's now 520 x 20. Now double it once more. 2080 is your answer and you've multiplied just by adding a zero and doubling the number twice.

I am also able to easily convert degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit quickly using a shortcut that I actually came up with myself. I'll pick an easy number to demonstrate.

We know that 100 Celsius is 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Start by taking 100 and doubling it. You now have 200. Subtract 10% (which is 20) and you're now at 180. Now just add 32 degrees and you have 212.

Our society is so fast-paced that it would be better to show students how to solve problems without unnecessary over-complicated steps. This just makes them dumber.

Maybe they're onto something. Liberals know that the best way to control a population is to disarm them, and make them dependent and stupid.