Is Education ‘Reform’ Wrecking the Common Core?

[Sgent]

9. What do bubble tests, pencils, or testing in general have to do with Common Core?

Common core is a list of standards, it is not (by itself) curriculum, nor is it a test, nor does it require testing.

All common core is, is a standard says that a 5th grader should know this, a 6th grader that, etc.

If states / school districts want to test on that basis, its a different issue. However, everyone has been tested from time immemorial. I received a B in 9th grade biology 25 years ago, so obviously I was tested and expected to know *something*. Hopefully with common core if I receive a B it will mean I know the same things as some one the next county, city, or state over or across the country.

You could reasonably argue (and people have) that the standards are bad for various reasons -- not age appropriate, not needed or valuable skills / knowledge, not rigorous enough, etc. But arguing against common core because of testing requirements seem disingenuous, since they are not synonymous.