At this point, the Common Core State Standards have received a lot of publicity, whether from parents, politicians, school officials or even celebrities. It seems that everyone has an opinion on the Standards, no matter how much that person actually knows about them. In fact, popular comedians have even given their two cents on the subject. Stephen Colbert satirized the subject on his show, "The Colbert Report," and Louis C.K. turned his stand up routine into a way to share his opinion. While many people may be tempted to take the word of their favorite celebrities, it's good to form your own views based on research rather than popular assumption.
A shared experience
When comedians or writers of comedic text want to create a scene that will make people laugh, they often look to shared experiences. These are things that most people can identify with, making them a great topic for accessible content. Communities have provided public school since before America was a country, but each implemented mandatory education at different times. American kids have had education in common ever since they were required to attend school. Whether a child went to a public school in 1800 or is currently enrolled in a Common Core-aligned district, students can commiserate on the experience together.
Because education is such a mainstay in childhood and adolescence, it makes a great topic for comedy. Films, books and television have all portrayed the mean teacher, the lunchroom bully or locker mishaps. Each of these are experiences or tropes that most people know and immediately understand. Now that the Common Core State Standards are such a hot topic, one can only expect they would become the focus of comedy as well.
Mark Twain mocks school
According to the Atlantic, prolific American author Mark Twain expressed his dislike for public education in many of his written works. In fact, in "Tom Sawyer," Tom and his friends skip out on examination day and play a prank on their teacher (an act many kids may dream of). Twain's frustrations with public school were a common topic in his writing.
"Isn't it reasonably possible," Twain asks in the essay "English as She is Taught," "that in our schools many of the questions in all studies are several miles ahead of where the pupil is?…That he is set to struggle with things that are ludicrously beyond his present reach, hopelessly beyond his present strength?"
The fear that schools push students beyond their current capabilities may be one parents feel even today. This uneasiness is not just associated with the Common Core, but with school in general. However, students, no matter their age, are capable of great things.
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