Critics express concern about standardized testing and insist that there should be a way to measure student excellence within the same context as rigorous, uniform educational standards (Baker, 2006; Kohn, 2000). Experts, such as Dr. Montessori, disagree and counter that there are other methods that can be implemented to evaluate each child. They warn against instilling fear and anxiety in students and the consequences for their brain development (Kohn, 1999; Kunimura, 2010; Montessori, 1949; Myers, 2011). Instead, they emphasize the importance of creating an environment that allows for trial and error to maximize learning, to mimic real-life situations. Supporters of the current education system continue and even want to deepen their Common Core Initiative, which aims to align different state curricula into a unified whole, building on current school reform (Kohn, 1999; Ravitch, 2010). Scholars, on the other hand, are deeply concerned about this and deny that this disengages children from school and their learning. They argue that children are also different human beings, just like adults who are naturally different, and that school curricula need to be flexible to allow for the challenges that each leaner brings with them. Furthermore, they object and remind that children are not machines, where a single manual would be enough for everyone. They remember that children are born explorers and natural learners, educating this from them causes emotional instability, rejection and skepticism and achieves exactly the opposite. Opponents then dispute that standardized tests are an objective means of assessing understanding and continue to maintain the image that The Common Core Standards eliminate wasted time by focusing on the essential topic…half of the paper…psychology. (Vol. 8, pp. 242-243). Bedford, St. Martin's: Worth Publisher. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2013). Pisa 2012 results. Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/pisa/keyfindings/pisa-2012-results.htmRunco, MA (2009). Divergent thinking. In B. Kerr (Ed.), Encyclopedia of giftedness, creativity and talent (Vol. 1, pp. 252-253). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publishing. Ravitch, D. (2010). The death and life of America's great school system: How testing and choice are undermining education. New York, NY: Basic Books. Rossier Staff. (2011, February 8). Education spending and performance in the United States compared to the rest of the world. Retrieved from http://rossieronline.usc.edu/us-education-versus-the-world-infographic/Sir Robinson, K. (Interpreter). (2010, October). Changing paradigms [Web Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl2eHNFeDeM