I wrote a letter to Maryland Legislators this is one response: Dear Ms. Stromsky, Thank you for taking the time to express your strong concerns about the Common Core curriculum guidelines mandated by the President and federal government. I’d like to share some of my thoughts with you. The roll out of Common Core standards in education has been as big a disaster as the roll out of ObamaCare. Baltimore County Superintendent of Education Dallas Dance commented, We are building the plane as we fly it. That telling statement by the Superintendent does not inspire confidence and we are talking about our childrens education. Teachers are asking questions and not receiving answers. Students are relegated to the status of guinea pigs, subjugated to the power of a national education mandate. Parents, teachers, elected representatives, and other stakeholders have been excluded from the development of Common Core. Even the people are controlled and managed at public meetings. Some have been arrested for exercising their right of free speech. The Common Core standards were developed by two Washington, D.C., based trade organizations: the Council of State School Officers and the National Governors Association. However, most of the work was executed by a private company, Achieve Incorporated. The Bill and the Melinda Gates Foundation, which consistently promotes a global perspective as opposed to an American values approach, funded Common Core, costing 150 million dollars. Common Core was developed by committees behind closed doors without public debate. Neither Congress nor State Legislators, who are supposed to represent the public, were involved in the decision to adopt Common Core. State Governors or State Boards of Education, enticed by huge federal race to the top grants, signed on to support Common Core before they had even read the standards. This is a massive federal power grab mandating control over our childrens education. Nationalized curriculum and standards have replaced local autonomy and independence. The math standards are two or more years behind international expectations and current educational standards in America. The first grade reading list includes, Whos in a Family? by Robert Skutch and The Family Book by Todd Parr, both of which inform first graders that some families have two mommies or two daddies. Kids Guide to Social Action by Barbara Lewis, a book recommended for teachers as a resource guide, coaches children to rebel and defy family values in order to assert kids rights. Sandra Stotsky, a retired professor of education reform and a member of the Common Core Validation Committee refused to approve the standards. Dr. Stotsky wrote, A diminished emphasis on literature makes it unlikely that American students will study a meaningful range of culturally and historically significant literary work before graduation. Other aspects of the standards need to be mentioned. Although the proponents claim the effort is limited, it includes teacher evaluations, student performance, private school programs, nearly all learning material, and college entrance exams, including the SAT and ACT. People who characterize common core as anything other than a national takeover of schooling are not telling the truth. The most astonishing thing about Common Core is that no state, school district, or school, has ever used the core. It has no track record. According to a recent Maryland State Education Association survey, 82% of the teachers believe that it will be a significant challenge to understand and implement Common Core. No one knows how much it will cost to implement Common Core. New text books, teacher training, and technology upgrades are only part of the problem. Taxpayers’ funds will be used for outreach and information to promote Common Core. In other words, the proponents will use our own money to brainwash us. One of the most disturbing technological initiatives is the creation of a massive database that includes private information about students and parents. Its the IRS and NSA all over, again. In order to slow down this never-built airplane that Superintendent Dance talked about, I am introducing three bills, two that will be local for Baltimore and Harford Counties, and one state- wide version. All three create a moratorium or temporary termination of the Common Core program. Also, part of the three bills will establish an Impact Commission to engage in an honest and in-depth assessment of Common Core values. This legislation will generate an open process that will include parents, teachers, experts, elected officials, and all stakeholders in a transparent forum. Those who are concerned about the Common Core standards should rally around these legislative initiatives because this will be the only opportunity to stop this runaway train. Again, I appreciate you contacting me about this important issue. I have added you to my mailing list in order to provide you with future updates. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if I may provide any additional assistance to you or your family. Del. Pat McDonough 410-841-3334
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 18:24:56 +0000
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