Results Are In: Common Core Is Making American Kids Dumber

I have never understood why anyone thinks that methods of teaching that has worked for centuries is somehow outdated. We put men on the moon with rote memorization and a slide rule, this generation would be lucky to be able to change a tire.

This is a problem that I wish I could blame on government, but I don't. I do a bit of volunteer work in the schools my grandkids attend. In my opinion kids are "dumber" to day than 50 years ago for three reasons.

_Parents are less involved and less interested in their kids school work. My Dad set the perfect example. When it was time for us to sit down and do homework, unless he was working, my Dad was right there reading something that improved some skill or knowledge that he was working on. But he was instantly available if we needed help. By the time I hit High School he was getting his advanced degree in economics and we sat at the same table during "homework time."

_Kids are more involved in packaged entertainment, rather than using their own imagination to create their own entertainment. My Legos didn't come in kits. I made things from my own imagination. And give me a box of non-toy junk.., that I could take apart and put back together again... I was in heaven.

_Kids are less physically active. I used to be so worn out that it was a great break to sit down and read a book. Mom used to buy me workbooks and for every one I finished I got a free pass on stewed spinach and/or broccoli. I don't have to eat either until I'm well into my 90's.

I wish I could claim I was more innately intelligent than my peers. I wasn't. But mom and dad created an environment where learning was valued and encouraged. By my sophomore year in high school I was taking some of my classes at the University of Arizona.

My daughter and son-in-law raise farm kids, in a "not so great" school district. They have a similar approach to education as my Dad. Plus, all four kids ages 5-11 are at least bi-lingual. They only get to watch kid movies on Netflix, one show per day, but they have to watch them in a foreign language. During inclement weather, they read instead of watching TV. All of them across the board test above grade.

Education is broken in this country.