Recommending a Modification to the Common Core State Standards Initiative:
By Including more Multi-Literacy
Thaddaeus C. Dachille
Abstract
In this paper, I hypothesize that the Common Core State Standards Initiative’s lack of creative arts training in the
English Language Arts could cripple America’s future in the coming world economy. Ironically, the CCSSI
claims to prepare learners for college and careers; but, does not consider architects, engineers, military
professionals, urban planners, and anyone who thinks visually. Moreover, this limited emphasis placed on the
arts is putting the craft into survival mode in many public schools; the only hope for funding (for liberal arts)
comes from private resources, a tactic that has helped save art programs in other school districts like in Los
Angeles (Public Schools Slash Arts Education and Turn to Private Funding., n.d.). Theoretically, if society only
knew how art education is so directly tied to literacy development, perhaps there would be a push to add detailed
visual literacy requirements to the CCSSI and potentially save the arts from eminent demise. Correspondingly, in
this paper, I want to advocate the view that we are culturally moving towards a modified language that is digital,
visual, and written, thereby providing relevance for training globally-ready, multi-literate learners through the
vehicle of art education.
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