Evaluating the Common Core
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“A beacon of truth.” Issue 1, Volume 42 Huntington High School Oakwood and McKay Roads Huntington, NY 11743 Evaluating the Common Core The verdict on Huntington’s controversial new program By Charles Beers November 2013 news in short high level." The newly However, he also implemented Com- noted many flaws with the >The Boys Varsity soccer mon Core program program, and expressed team ended an incredible has become one of the his dissatisfaction with the season with a 1-0 loss in most controversial increasingly dull passages aspects of this school that students are being forced the semi-finals of the Suf- year at Huntington. to read. “The problem isn’t folk County Finals. While many students that the program stresses have heard of the new non-fiction,” he said. “It’s the system, and attribute fact that the text is becom- >The History Honor So- the rise in stress levels ing much more technical." they have experienced By some accounts it has been ciety started off strongly over the first few suggested that students are be- with its first inauguration. months of school to ing forced to read instruction it, most of the student manuals, which can be dry body is unaware of and irrelevant. He continued >The Huntington High the actual implica- by expressing the importance tions of the state’s new of nonfiction in the class- School Drama Club had education philosophy. room, but in alignment with another strong showing According to traditional literature, which is with their new play Anne its website, the Com- successful future. understanding of concepts by an integral part of the educa- of the Green Gables. mon Core State Standard Ini- Despite New York reducing the number of stan- tional system. tiative states that its standards State's admirable goals, stu- dards to follow. However, I am So, now that we are are “designed to be robust dents unanimously associate disappointed, because it takes two months since the start and relevant to the real world, the Common Core with an the creativity out of teaching of the school year, it is time >Several of Huntington reflecting the knowledge and increase in exams and graded by telling us what to teach and to give the Common Core a High School’s talented art- skills that our young people assignments, and, therefore, how to teach it.” By stressing grade of its own. While its ists, including sophomore need for success in college and criticize the system at every rigid lesson plans, the teach- reception has been mixed to Justin Martinolich and ju- careers.” In simplest terms, the possible opportunity. er's unique style is constricted negative from both students program is preparing for the This begs the question and the information is set up and teachers, it is clear that nior Meelod Wafajow, won future, designed so that high to both students and teachers on a conveyor belt, never let- only time will tell whether or awards at the Huntington school students will make a alike: Is the Common Core ting students try and deviate not the program deserves to Council’s Nightmare on seamless transi- from the predetermined stay in Huntington. Main Street exhibit. tion from high to “What Huntington really needs is path. Until then, students school to college a balance: an educational equilib- Other instructors can only imagine that per- and, finally, to the cite the new workload fect educational system that rest of their lives. rium that combines all of the right as a problem for stu- constantly eludes them. Hun- >Girls Varsity tennis went In addi- dents, believing that tington needs a system that 10-4 overall to finish their tion, the Com- elements to make the perfect four- the amount of tests and increases the critical thinking season second in Suffolk mon Core also year experience.” in-class assignments has of its students, but not at the County League II. promotes critical been drastically in- expense of their creativity thinking. Many creased for the 2013-14 and genuine appreciation for critics argue that Ameri- program an effective method school year. With the added learning. Huntington needs can students are struggling of increasing educational pro- pressures of standardized test- to stress new material for the educationally in comparison ficiency? ing and the analysis of student changing social climate and to countries abroad, and While most students growth over the course of the prepare kids for their futures need a jolt to catch up with have already condemned the year, it becomes difficult to outside of high school, but not the rest of the world. Other program for its newfound truly enjoy the classes them- when this material becomes experts suggest the true aim is rigor, it is the reaction from selves. monotonous and overshadows to expose students to a wide the teachers that is most sur- One of Huntington's traditional fiction. range of communications in prising. The majority of school teachers had his own opin- What Huntington many forms. As technology officials are in agreement that, ions on the Common Core really needs is a balance: an advances daily students must despite the programs’ good program. He supported many educational equilibrium that become more familiar with intentions, Common Core fundamental ideas of the combines all of the right this technological terminol- hasn’t been implemented program, such as challenging elements to make the per- ogy in order to compete in effectively and detracts from students with new material. fect four-year experience. If global economics. The Com- the educational experience. “The philosophy behind the the Common Core system, Check it out mon Core is a hard program For instance, one teacher Common Core is valuable,” despite its noticeable flaws, is to define, as it encompasses so expressed her frustration he stated in an interview, “and any indication, the district is The Dispatch Archive many parts of the high school by stating, “Common Core it’s important for students to definitely taking big steps in student’s journey towards a promoted a narrow but deeper be able to read and write at a the right direction. INSIDE INDEX Fashion Tips Huntington Soccer News....................................2 Declan Byrnes Dazzles La Pagina en Espanol........3 from Two Incredible Seasons Technology..........................4 in Stage Debut Teacher Feature.................5 Huntington’s Fashion...............................6 Spotlight.............................7 Brightest pages 11 & 12 Editorial..............................8 Entertainment..................10 Sports...........................11,12 page 6 page 2 The Dispatch 2 NOVEMBER13 In the Spotlight With Declan Byrne The Huntington Star Weighs in on his Sensational Off-Broadway Debut By Katie Duval “There are some stories that One of Huntington What was it about McGold- think I have any High School’s star performers Is acting on stage what you rick's Thread that drew you you just don’t know about your big stories. is demonstrating his acting hope to do with the rest of in? talents beyond the high school your life? heritage... It’s really important Do you feel more stage. DB: I heard that it was for people to know... where they connected to Ire- Declan kind of a big play and I land and the Irish Byrne was part of the had just started getting come from.” tradition? Off-Broadway play into theater. I heard McGoldrick's Thread that there was Irish DB: I definitely over the summer. dancing in it and that's the play? do. There's one flashback The junior, whose something that I'm very scene to Ireland and I got re- family is of Irish interested in. I thought DB: I could really relate to ally in character for it and had descent, was part of it was very interesting some of the characters in it. a lot of fun doing it. the ensemble cast of to be able to experience I felt that some of the things Irish Step dancers learning from people they said or did were some of Were most of the other people and singers. that were very talented the things I could be saying in the play of Irish heritage as The play in Irish dancing and or doing. There was one part well? centers around the were familiar with Irish where the whole family in O'Reilly family who tradition. I really en- the play got together to eat DB: Most of the actors were have just moved from joyed being able to have dinner and I understand that Irish. I bonded really well Ireland to an apart- that experience. connectedness. I feel like not with all the Irish dancers and ment in the Bronx. all families have that but Irish we all got along really well Magee, the only In the play, you're called families definitely do. together. daughter, is a talented to do a lot of Irish step. Irish Step dancer who Was this a style of danc- Marianne Driscoll, the writer Do you think it would be ben- wants to pursue the ing you were already of the play, spoke about how eficial for other teenagers to craft for her career. familiar with? she hopes her work will have similar experiences with Along the way, though, she inspire people to learn more learning about their respective must learn about her own DB: I'm not really sure if it is. DB: I've been doing Irish about their family heritage. heritages? family and how the sacrifices I think it might be a hobby dancing for the majority of Do you feel that after your they all make for one another or I might choose to pursue my life, maybe since 6 or 8.