Mixed Views About New York Law Opting-Out of the Common Core

At a rally to celebrate a bill intended to withdraw New York State from the national Common Core and Race to the Top initiatives was held on Tuesday and dozens of people showed up to support it, including Shoreham parent Jeanine Cozzetti, founder of a Facebook group "Parents and Teachers Against the Common Core" (PT-ACC).

The Common Core curriculum, a national standard that was supposed to align student learning and better prepare them for college and careers, has faced increasing push back by parents and teachers this year, some encouraging students to opt-out of standardized testing.

We asked readers on Babylon Village Patch's Facebook page and on the site how they felt about the law and whether students were tested too much in school. Here is what a few of them said:

Deborah Cascio Plezia: YES!!!! Common Core should be abolished!!! Destroys individualism.. and teachers shouldn't be judged on test scores.... AND they should be evaluated by administrators and just like any other job in America, be fired if not performing up to snuff! Most teachers are very caring and good - some are horrible should be fired - enough with "Tenure"...let's go back to putting our children as the priority...

Brigid Moran Cruickshank: As a teacher, I don't have a problem with the CC but I do with the way they've implemented it. We've had zero training & tests thrown at us with no samples, instructions, etc. it's been poorly done & mostly benefits pols & big business (Pearson)... not our kids which was the intention (supposedly).

Cinnylexus Gordon: Yes! Teachers are not trained n each school district is implementing things the way they believe tests should be. Plus, There is tons of bs paperwork that wastes educational time. why should teachers have to teach to a test? Children should not be judged on test scores! Especially since ESL and children w/ disabilities take the same test, so of course their scores are low! Stop testing our children! Let them enjoy learning!

Mary Contrary: I don't think there's anything wrong with the Common Core curriculum; I do think much less emphasis should be placed on the current system of testing. I also don't think it's fair to evaluate teachers on students' test scores.

Dawn Flowers-Leib: Absolutely!!!

Jay Rettaliata: So if we get rid of core curriculum and testing, we will have better educated students? How would we know?

Donna Jean: Way too much testing!

Rosalie Giasullo Rau: Right on!!!!

How do you feel about it? Is there too much standardized testing in our schools? Would you like to see the Common Core repealed?