Common Core, don’t copy China’s test-prep culture

Editor’s note: Yong Zhao is presidential chair and professor in the Department of Educational Measurement, Policy and Leadership in the College of Education, University of Oregon. He is the author of “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon: Why China Has the Best (and Worst) Education System in the World.” Follow him on Twitter:@yongzhaoUO The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

(CNN) — The goal of Common Core is laudable: Give all students a common experience in English and math. But the path to that end has been fraught with problems. For one thing, more parents and educators are upset over all the tests students now have to take. Teachers are concerned about the negative impact of teaching to the test.

Supporters of Common Core insist the standards and tests are necessary for holding schools accountable and ensuring a better future for America. But they may want to take a page from China, which has experienced the good, bad and ugly of a testing culture.

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