Following the biting Letter to the Editor from Chicago Public Schools principal Troy LaRaviere, the Chicago Sun-Times is kicking off a series of critical essays from Chicago teachers.
The first of the “Summer School” series was written by Curie High School teacher Adam Heenan. The social studies teacher argues that Common Core state standards are threatening effective teaching styles like the ones he uses in his classes.
“I don’t want support for Common Core. I believe we must actively resist it because it does not prioritize the needs of students and teachers,” Heenan writes. “Instead educators need autonomy and support to design engaging lessons for and with students.”
Laraviere’s Letter to the Editor in May encouraged principals to speak out against CPS officials and the mayor’s administration. Since the editorial was published, teachers and principals also wrote their own essay responses, posted on Laraviere’s blog.
