Diane Ravitch on the new common standards

Since states are being forced to jump aboard, I'm interested in what people think of the new common standards. Please take a look and leave a comment. Here's Diane Ravitch's take on them:

The US Department of Education should encourage several states to try them out and see how they work. "Standards" are only words on paper until they are implemented. When they have been in use for three-five years, then other states will have a clear idea about whether these are good standards.

If there are great results (not just test scores) but evidence that students are motivated to learn the subject and are taking more courses, then every states will rush to adopt them.

The FDA does not mandate drugs without clinical trials. Our states are supposed to be "laboratories of democracy." Here is a chance to try the standards and see how they work.