Answers I liked

[Craig Jessop]

I just want to say that not yayfulness is probably the best thing that has happened to the Board since CATS or the Snake Whisperer. I just love when not yayfulness answers!

[S.A.M.]

Bob! you should create an IDWTDA line of bracelets! http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/72489/

[bobtheenchantedone]

Ha! Maybe I will.

[Squirrel]

72519. Oh my goodness, Genuine. That was so funny-- made my day- tomorrow too!

[Portia]

Owlet is a very impressive artist!

[Portia]

I'm liking this Tootles kid. Given nymdrogyny, probably a dude.

[Squirrel]

I'm liking this Tootles kid. Given nymdrogyny, probably a dude.

You've met Tootles. You just don't remember werf.

[Genuine Article]

72519. Oh my goodness, Genuine. That was so funny-- made my day- tomorrow too!

I hoped you'd get a kick out of that.

[Owlet]

Owlet is a very impressive artist!

Thanks Portia! There's nothing like multimedia to look like you know what you're talking about.

[Whistler]

I still don't understand what the big deal about the Common Core is.

[Katya]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/72524/

I ♥ momfulness.

[Katya]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/72570/

Thanks for this answer! I live in that neighborhood and I noticed this the other day when I was outside, but I had no clue what it could be.

[Portia]

I still don't understand what the big deal about the Common Core is.

The Common Core has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, from the liberal Brookings Institute to the libertarian Cato Institute.[26] Conservatives, including several Republican governors, have assailed the program as a federal "top-down" takeover of state and local education systems.[27][28] South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said her state should not "relinquish control of education to the federal government, neither should we cede it to the consensus of other states."[27]

Policy analysts have also questioned the efficacy of the Common Core. The Heritage Foundation argues that the Common Core's focus on national standards will do little to fix deeply ingrained problems and incentive structures within the education system.[29] Similarly, the Brookings Institute issued research calling into question whether the standards would have a significant effect.[26] According to the National Governors Association, one motivating factor for creating the Common Core standards was the United States' low ranking on international test results, but a study concluded there does not seem to be a relationship between the U.S.'s low score on these tests and its economic ranking.[30][31]

Education commentators have argued the program drains initiative from teachers and enforces a "one-size-fits-all" curriculum that ignores cultural differences among classrooms and students.[32][33] Additionally, education experts, including a former president of the National Council of Teachers of English, have argued that the creation of Common Core standards lacked sufficient public input and was driven by corporate interests and policy-makers, rather than experienced educators.[34] [35]. Critics have also said that the standards emphasize rote learning and uniformity over creativity, and fail to recognize differences in learning styles.[35] Additionally, education reform advocate Sandra Stotsky has argued that the standards will lead to students reading more nonfiction texts, rather than being exposed to challenging literature.[36]

And as a two-year math tutor, this sums up my principal objection:

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article for TheAtlantic.com describing some of the problems with how math is currently being taught. Specifically, some math programs strive to teach students to think like "little mathematicians" before giving them the analytic tools they need to actually solve problems.

We hashed this out in our weekly faculty meetings a lot. Read the Atlantic article to see the kind of craziness this entails. It's expecting abstract algebraic thinking of 5- or 8-year-olds. They aren't mastering math facts and will definitely struggle in later grades.

[Digit]

Sounds like the 70s in this joke.

[Portia]

According to inflation, I made the equivalent of about $9.50 in today's dollars babysitting, which sounds about right. I was very well-paid. The boy (there was a brother and sister) was mildly autistic, the family was well-off, and these would be 5-day-a-week, 8-hour marathons, so that probably fetched me a premium.

The (very real!) allegation of cheapness among average Joe Mormons holds up. I never liked babysitting in my "new ward" (which was not nearly as nice as our "old ward" old money neighborhood) because the kids were by and large brats and the parents were cheap. A waitress friend of mine says that Mormons tip badly and (somewhat to my surprise) don't order drinks or dessert. However, a wife of a general authority came in and tipped well and got dessert, so class is definitely involved here.

[Portia]

Sounds like the 70s in this joke.

YES IT'S JUST LIKE NEW MATH. My parents were in elementary in the '70s. It's terrible. It's like Sally in Peanuts. To quote Charlie Brown, "ARRRGH!"

[Whistler]

so, I've read a bit about the Common Core, but the sites against it all sound like raving constitutionalists ("making everything the same is socialism!" "They're taking away the power of local leaders!"). I like the idea of having some consistency across the nation's schools. Is it just that the curriculum they've chosen to be consistent with sucks?

[Squirrel]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/72570/

Thanks for this answer! I live in that neighborhood and I noticed this the other day when I was outside, but I had no clue what it could be.

You're welcome. I'm glad I could help

[Portia]

so, I've read a bit about the Common Core, but the sites against it all sound like raving constitutionalists ("making everything the same is socialism!" "They're taking away the power of local leaders!"). I like the idea of having some consistency across the nation's schools. Is it just that the curriculum they've chosen to be consistent with sucks?

In my opinion, yes.

[mic0]

72560: Those are good answers, but they just further emphasize to me the fact that people handle things differently, and "complaining" can mean different things to different people. Sometimes I complain about my husband to a close friend or family member, and this usually helps me realize that the thing that is bothering me is or isn't important, and it helps give me other perspectives. I'm not saying ignore your significant other, but we have friends and family to help us and it is okay to complain sometimes. /opinions (PS I LOVE MY HUSBAND (he doesn't read this, but sometimes I feel like maybe I only point out the bad things here (also we talk about everything)))