re: Jindal wants Louisiana out of Common Core

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1) No one. Not one person can claim that the standards are tougher, because the DAMN assessment tests haven't even been given yet. Teaching subject matter to a 1st grader that used to be introduced in 2nd grade doesn't mean the standards are tougher. It means people with zero knowledge of child development found out there is money in the testing business

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One of my classes was part of field testing the PARCC assessment this year. I'm young. I'm not that far removed from college. I remember what the GEE looked like when I took it in high school. The tests my students took was a substantial step up in rigor from what I remember taking. IF the PARCC examinations look like that you absolutely have no leg upon which you can stand.

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3) Half of reading requirements are now to be filled with real world examples, or non fiction and informational. Which means we are replacing literature in our schools with lessons on how to read a utility bill, or credit card statement, or a car manual, or product assembly instructions

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You don't know what you're talking about. Is there a greater emphasis on non-fiction texts? Yes. Question -- how much literature did you read in college? How much non-fiction did you read? How much fiction do you read every day at work?

What's more practical, producing generations of learners that can read the flying frick out of Chaucer or people that can pick up a newspaper, news article, lab report, or other piece of informational text and read it, analyze it, synthesize it, and build upon it?

Is Chaucer valuable? Sure. Is it all that should be taught? Of course not. In my opinion this is a definite step in the right direction in terms of college and real world readiness.