The Issue at a Glance

Uncommonly Bad (10.1007/s12129-013-9336-9)

Jane Robbins, American Principles Project

In the first assessment offered in “The Common Core State Standards: Two Views” feature, Jane Robbins describes the defects in the latest education initiative—a set of K–12 standards in English language arts and mathematics designed by the D.C.-based nonprofit Achieve, Inc. Embraced by the federal government as a means of “transforming” American education and made tempting via offers of funds and waivers from other federal mandates, the Common Core standards have been accepted by forty-five states and the District of Columbia.

Common Core as Tactical Advantage (10.1007/s12129-013-9337-8)

Mark Bauerlein, Emory University

Responding in part to Jane Robbins, Mark Bauerlein offers his thoughts in “The Common Core State Standards: Two Views,” and sees opportunity rather than pure disaster. Hardly blind to the problems Robbins describes, Bauerlein finds language in