Superintendent Brown calls Town Hall meeting
Throughout the United States, schools have begun the process of standardizing their education in through use of a program called Common Core. California recently joined the ranks of the states enforcing Common Core standards.
This decision is accompanied by strong opinions both for and against, and brings with it a trying time of transition for the Fresno Christian campus.
In response to this controversial issue’s adoption in our state’s public schools, Superintendent Jeremy Brown held an informative town hall meeting on November 2, 2015, discussing the nature of the school’s response to Common Core.
The changes that Common Core enforces center around the academic subjects of English language arts and mathematics. Each fall, winter, and spring, the Northwest Education Assessment is administered. This assessment differs from the traditional multiple choice format of test by measuring a wider range of knowledge.
Superintendent Brown supports the reforming aspect of Common Core and welcomes to positive changes that the policy brings about, but acknowledges the brevity of the changes.
“In general, by the nature of my personality, I am almost always in favor of reform,” Brown said. “I think it’s always good to examine what we do and why we do it. Specifically to Common Core, I think the idea of refining what we’ve been doing is something that’s needed. This move to Common Core is an overhaul.”
Though the changes Common Core brings may improve education in some aspects, Brown believes that the execution of the policy proves problematic.
“My concern isn’t so much what they’re overhauling to, but the manner in which they are doing the overhaul,” Brown said. “The shift is being rushed and isn’t being communicated well to teachers as well as students and families. Overall, the switch to Common Core is good, but the execution is less so.”
We have to respond to it, but respond doesn’t mean adopt. We could partially adopt, or we could reject it, but we do need to start moving, because it’s such a monumental shift that it can’t be done overnight. Right now we are in the education phase, so that we can make an informed decision as a community, instead of a knee-jerk reaction like the public schools did. –Superintendent Jeremy Brown
Brown comments further about the way the FC community will move forward in view of these significant changes, emphasizing that the issue can not be ignored.
“We are going forward as a community; I have begun a series of trainings with our staff to get them more informed about what Common Core is,” Brown said. “The Nov. 2 meeting is another step to get our community understanding Common Core. We have to respond, because 42 out of 50 states have adopted Common Core. That will affect curriculums, college entrance, AP test scores, and SAT and ACT test scores.”
Further explaining what Common Core is and the changes it brings, Brown shifted to speaking about Fresno Christian’s response to the coming alterations.
“We have to respond to it, but respond doesn’t mean adopt,” Brown said. “We could partially adopt, or we could reject it, but we do need to start moving, because it’s such a monumental shift that it can’t be done overnight. Right now we are in the education phase, so that we can make an informed decision as a community, instead of a knee-jerk reaction like the public schools did.”
In his Nov. 2 presentation, Brown hoped to further explain about Common Core in order to avoid confusion. Prior to the meeting, he ran over his main objectives that he desired to get across.
“I hope to provide further clarification as to what Common Core is,” Brown said. “Common Core is a set of standards, and standards are academic objectives. I want to bring some perspective into what it is. I’ll be offering our community a perspective so that we can sift through all the noise. We can see what we need to see and make a decision based on facts, not off of emotion or hearsay.”
This logical and cautious approach generally pleased the parents in attendance at the meeting. Brown began with a PowerPoint presentation discussing Common Core, and then opened the floor to questions. Some questions revolved around accreditation and other academic matters, while others focused on the moral implications of implementing secular standards into a private Christian school.
Fresno Christian parent Chris Dorfmeier expressed his feelings about Common Core after the meeting, voicing his approval of our school’s approach.
“I’m neutral about Common Core as of right now,” Dorfmeier said. “It’s important for me as a parent that my child be prepared to compete and be successful academically in his future, but the content and the way we get there is very important. I’m really impressed with the way Mr. Brown rolled out to us that they (the school) will be very thoughtful and methodical.”
Not every parent saw Common Core in a positive light. Christy Bagan, another parent in attendance, identified Common Core as a threat to the school’s values.
“I don’t think Common Core is a good idea. It’s a little bit frightening to me,” Bagan said. “I’m a little unsettled that we’re talking about it in Fresno Christian. I think a lot of it introduces things that we don’t agree with as Christians, so it’s concerning to me. However, I think Mr. Brown is going in a very conservative direction, which I appreciate.”
Following the careful analysis of Common Core by the school, the future of the campus lies in the collective hands of our community. The administrators will select those pieces of Common Core that benefit the students, and leave the rest. As a private school, Fresno Christian is not bound by any standards other than those we impose on ourselves. With the watchful eye of qualified teachers on the moral values and academic standards being taught, only benefits will result.
This author can be reached via Twitter: @Andrew_Mooooore and via email: [email protected].
