She points out that this current path that education is on is one she saw in the former Soviet Union.  Wait a minute… a liberal bringing up Communism?!?! Are we sure she's not a closet tea party activist?  (Just kidding…)

During my time teaching with the Peace Corps, Moldova was at a point of transitioning from a Communist society to a democratic society. I was instructed to help teachers incorporate opportunities for individual thinking and creativity into their lessons, as this was not done under Soviet rule.

Under Soviet rule, everyone was taught the same thing, testing was everything and you were labeled because of it. Teachers and students were still largely operating through this system while I was there. I would hear comments from teachers such as, "Don't bother with him, he can't do it." There was no discussion of individual learning differences, the impact of hunger, other outside influences or whether the standards, lessons or materials were working. Is this not what we have now with Common Core?