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Ashley Johnson
UWRITE
Cambell
11 March 2015
Greene, David. "The Long Death of Creative Thinking." US News. U.S.News & World Report,
n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
David Green, an author, supervisor of Fordham University, and consultant for
WISEservices.org and Save our Schools writes this well educated article about the
American school systems to the popular news site US News. In his article he gives a brief
history of the common core system. It all started with the publication of Nation at Risk
that was the greatest leap towards the use of the common core system. This book
introduced the idea of bringing economic incentives into the education system. Ironically,
the only country not to join was Finland, who is now praised with the highest education
in the world. The next push in the use of the common core system was Bushs No Child
Left Behind project that brought about a huge standardized testing craze. Because of
this, Green argues that in order to pursue high test grades, spontaneity and creativity have
been thrown out of the classroom. Good teachers are fired and replaced with cheaper
ones more willing to follow the factory like process in the education system. Greens
article is very well written with many valid facts. Green quotes and cites sources from
many other well known education specialists. Having first hand experience in the
education system as a supervisor of Fordham University, Green is a trustworthy source. I
will definitely use this useful source in my EIP as it brings personal and fresh

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perspectives on the dangers and hardships of the common core system. Also the other
sources he uses can be further investigated as sources for my EIP as well.
Carlsson-Paige, Nancy. "Reclaiming Play: Helping Children Learn and Thrive in
School." Reclaiming Play: Helping Children Learn and Thrive in School. Nancy Carlsson-Paige,
n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
Nancy Carlson-Paige, having a doctorate in education, points out the fact that the
common core standards are not based in research. She says that many experts were
excluded from the curriculum making process. She then states how recent studies can
show that direct instruction can actually inhibit young childrens learning abilities. Next,
Paige points out how the reaction of the education specialists and parents to the common
core was hidden to the public. This can be seen on the grossly misleading common core
website that out of all 10,000 responses, only 24 are shown. Thats less than one percent!
They dont mention critically important response signed by more than 500 early
childhood professionals. Finally, Paige talks of how these standards kill creativity, critical
thinking, and overall learning. This is because the standards are bringing many people to
despair. Teachers can no longer teach how they know will be fun and interactive, and
must instead follow the standards. Paige is a K-3 education specialist with a deep
knowledge of the political state of affairs behind the creation of the common core
standards. She has researched the governments side and the educators side in order to
get a full understanding of the situation. She cites other education experts and uses their
research to support her argument. Paige is quoted by other well known education
specialists in the plight against the common core. Her view would be vital in my EIP as it
brings the political perspective into the mix, making for a diverse argument.

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Abadiano, Helen, Jessie Turner, and Lynda Valerie. "Common Core State Standards: Towards a
Cohesive Accountability System." N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
This next source is a proponent of the common core system. The authors cites different
authors with different interpretations of how the common core system improves test
scores. One of their arguments for better test scores is bringing more non-fiction reading
into the English courses. They claim these will challenge the students critical thinking
skills. They also argue that it is up to the freedom of the teacher to make the material
interesting and fun and interactive for students. Finally the argue that bringing new
material into the classroom altogether will increase the students test scores and therefore
their learning. This source is reliable because it pulls views from many proponents of
common core system and puts forth the best qualities of each. This is also a scholarly
article, therefore it had to be reviewed by many people before publication. Finally, this
article uses diverse arguments for the common core system. I will be using this article in
my EIP as it brings strong views of the pros for the common core system. This view will
help me to flesh out the battle between the proponents and opponents of the system. This
will help my EIP to be richer in overall research and information.
Heitner, Ethan. "The Trouble with the Common Core." Editorial:. Rethinking Schools, 2013. Web.
23 Feb. 2015.
Heitner starts his article by arguing that the education specialists who did work together
to make the common core curriculum had many ties to testing companies. Next he
discusses how the standards are tied to assessments that are still in development and must
be done on computers, of which many public schools do not have the money to buy. Next

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Heitner gives the example of the massive failure the No Child Left Behind program
brought when it brought about a whole slew of new tests. This had been a ten year
struggle, closing many public schools who dont reach the impossible test score
benchmarks. Finally, Heitner finishes with his fears for the new education since the same
policies used in the no child left behind project will be used in the common core system,
making massive failure inevitable. He fears that the possible demise of public education
is a serious threat to America. Heitners article gives another dimension to the plight
against the common core. He makes connections between the failures of the past, the No
Child Left Behind program, being used in the present policy of the common core system.
This article is reliable because it was written for the Rethinking Schools website, a
website dedicated solely to debate on the common core and public education in general. I
will be using this source in my EIP since it is reliable and makes connections between the
history of the common core and what it is now.