Gwinnett Daily Post | Wilbanks supports Common Core in Chamber speech

DULUTH — Likening it to planting an oak shade tree, J. Alvin Wilbanks spoke extensively on Wednesday about his support of the Common Core educational guidelines.

Wilbanks, the Superintendent/CEO of Gwinnett County Public Schools, made his annual visit to the Gwinnett Chamber where he gave a “State of the Schools” speech to a lunch crowd at the 1818 Club. Wilbanks said the Common Core is like a good oak tree in that it should have been planted — or implemented — 20 years ago.

“But today, now, is the second best time,” said Wilbanks, in his 18th year at GCPS. “To me, Common Core is about 20 years too late. It should have been in place 20 years ago, but now is a good time to do it. I actually think the Common Core will be one of the biggest helps we have in this country to really improve education.”

Wilbanks acknowledged the criticism of the Common Core guidelines as a federal takeover of education, while proponents say it offers a chance to measure students progress with peers across the country. The Common Core focuses on two areas: math and language arts.

“I do believe there’s a lot of merit for Common Core and we need to look at that, and not eliminate the continued reading and use of classics and literature,” said Wilbanks, who added that foundational documents and complex text would be good to read and discuss.

via Gwinnett Daily Post | Wilbanks supports Common Core in Chamber speech.