The Core Standards

I READ ABOUT THE INFORMATION ON THE NEW JERSEY CORE CURRICILUM STANDARDS. WHAT A BUNCH OF STUFF. IT ALL SOUNDS VERY NICE BUT IN THE URBAN SCHOOL SYSTEM IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY, AT LEAST NOT IN MY DISTRICT. I HAVE BEEN IN THE EAST ORANGE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR TWO YEARS NOW. IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOMS THERE ARE ABOUT 4-6 COMPUTERS SET UP. THE STUDENTS USE THEM FOR ASSISTANCE WITH UNDERSTANDING THEIR CLASSWORK WITH SITES SUCH AS COMPASS LEARNING. THEIR TECHNOLOGY CLASSES CONSIST OF THEM COMPLETING A PROGRAM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO TEACH THEM TO TYPE AND SOME DOCUMENTING SKILLS. THE 8TH GRADERS ARE ALSO DOING THE SAME PROGRAM. THERE IS NO DIVERSITY BETWEEN LEVELS AND TECHNOLOGY TECHNIQUES. I UNDERSTAND THE STANDARDS ARE PUT IN PLACE TO HELP THE STUDENTS TO EXCEL AND LEARN TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY AT THEIR FINGERTIPS TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. MY QUESTION IS WHO IS TEACHING THEM USING THESE STANDARDS ACCORDING TO THERE RESPECTIVE CLASSROOM LEVELS? MY 8TH GRADERS CAN CHAT ON MY SPACE, SEARCH YOU TUBE AND TEXT BUT THEY CANNOT TYPE A DOCUMENT IN WORD, CREATE A DATABASE, OR SURF FOR IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION. I THINK THAT THE STANDARDS NEED TO BE REWRITTEN OR SOMEHOW ENFORCED.