Ashley Johnson

Campbel
English 1103
9 February 2015
Topic Proposal
Introduction/Overview
I will be researching the effects that the common core curriculum has on creativity in
Public Schools. This is a heavily debated topic as Americans are now finding we have fallen
greatly in academic skill compared to the rest of the world. The proponents of the common core
curriculum are the ones who created it; the government. Opposing the curriculum are many
childrens education experts across the board. While in theory the common core curriculum
might sound like a good idea, as a way to measure all students equally and make sure all students
across America are learning the same thing. However, to oppose this idea is David Green in his
article The Long Death of Creative Thinking when he says The common core is just the last
of a series of politicized and incentivized business models inappropriately being applied to
education. Green is right in saying the education system is a politicized and incentivized
business model, and this can be seen through the use of test scores. No longer do teachers strive
to teach students knowledge for the sake of knowledge, but now must teach students for the sake
of test grades in order to reach a standard. Green states that this uniformity has sucked the life
out of teaching and learning. Adding another dimension to the argument against the common
core standard is Nancy Carlsson-Paige Ed.D. in her article A Tough Critique of Common Core

on Early Childhood Education. Paige argues that the common core to not provide for ongoing
research or try to review the outcomes of their adoption. Not only has the government forced
the common core on to schools and learning, but they did so without proper research to see what
would be the consequences. Now, according to David Green, 45 out of the 50 states have
adopted this common core without knowledge of its devastating effects.
Initial Inquiry Question(s)
What are the effects of the common core curriculum on creativity? How will this effect
the future of American Industry? Will American students be able to bounce back from the
devastation of the common core curriculum?
My interest in this topic:
I am interested in this topic because, being fresh out of high school, I have personally
seen the devastating effects of the common core curriculum and how many of my fellow students
could not think outside of the box, or fathom that there could be more than one solution. In other
words, they had their creativity ripped away from them in favor of collective thinking as opposed
to divergent thinking. Being more favorable to the arts myself, the common curriculum was
particular rough. I had many a teacher who did not like me for asking obsurd questions that
questioned the very essence of the standards. Or, in other words, why could I not try to find a
different angle to approach an answer for a fresh perspective. My curiosity was quickly put
down, and my hatred for the education system continued to deepen.
Next Steps

My next plan of action is to continue my research on the education system and creativity.
I will browse the Ted Talks website as they have many knowledgeable speakers on my topic. I
will then research these speakers and see if they have any more useful information, or if they
reference another viable source to use. Taking the knowledge I have gained through research, I
may or may not confine my topic to specific grade levels.