How do we Compare?

     After reading Gallagher's fifth chapter, I am even more adamant that the public school system here is headed in the wrong direction.Ironically, countries that used to be behind our ingenuity (China and Finland) have adopted our OLD ways of teaching by not over testing their students, directing them to multi tract options and more. On the other hand, our country is headed it the opposite direction. With the future core curriculum standards rolling out now across the nation, all states will adopt the same standards. So what's good for a rural Alabama child is what's good for a child in the Connecticut suburbs- is that not a form of socialism? Where is the freedom or the choice for teachers, schools, parents to simply teach and educate without standardizing all aspects. The standardization stifles creativity and prevents certain students from success. Every year there is a new way to teach, a new acronym for a new method, a new forum we have to attend to teach us the latest technology, blah,blah, blah- just let us teach to the whole child we have in our rooms every day and leave us the hell alone!!!,