Dear Editor:
Politics sure does make strange bedfellows. I believe any policy that is
opposed by both the New York State Teachers Union and the TEA Party (not
necessarily for the same reasons) needs to be looked at very carefully.
Of course, I am referring to the Common Core State Standards. And, of
course education is not supposed to be political. (Ahem.)
Just about everything you have been told about Common Core by the Federal,
State and Local education establishment is, at best, incorrect, and, at
worst, downright false. Starting with the way the standards were developed
(and the real motivation of those behind it), parents and teachers have
been misled, and those who question the standards and the implementation,
the effect on our children and grandchildren, the harm that is being and
will be done to the teaching profession and the enormous budget busting
costs, are basically being told to sit down and shut up - we know better
than you. Teachers who are opposed to, and frankly frightened by, Common
Core fear to speak out.
It is also ironic that the Douglas County, Colorado, Board of Education has
passed a resolution opposing the Common Core national standards due to the
quality of the standards and on principle. Ironic because our own Worcester
County Superintendent of Education hails from Colorado.
It is not my purpose here to reiterate all of the dangers and problems with
Common Core. There have been many letters to the editor about this subject,
and there are many news articles in national papers and online (most
recently "The Coming Common Core Meltdown" Jan 23rd, *Washington Post*).
There are numerous websites devoted to the dangers of Common Core.
Inquiring minds who want to know can read all about it.
Del. Michael Smigiel has introduced legislation in the House of Delegates
to repeal Common Core. The hearing on this bill is scheduled for February 5
th. Parents, grandparents and educators who believe they know better than
unelected bureaucrats what is best for their children and students should
contact their legislators and encourage them to vote to repeal the funding
for this mess.
Sincerely,
Carol Frazier
Politics sure does make strange bedfellows. I believe any policy that is
opposed by both the New York State Teachers Union and the TEA Party (not
necessarily for the same reasons) needs to be looked at very carefully.
Of course, I am referring to the Common Core State Standards. And, of
course education is not supposed to be political. (Ahem.)
Just about everything you have been told about Common Core by the Federal,
State and Local education establishment is, at best, incorrect, and, at
worst, downright false. Starting with the way the standards were developed
(and the real motivation of those behind it), parents and teachers have
been misled, and those who question the standards and the implementation,
the effect on our children and grandchildren, the harm that is being and
will be done to the teaching profession and the enormous budget busting
costs, are basically being told to sit down and shut up - we know better
than you. Teachers who are opposed to, and frankly frightened by, Common
Core fear to speak out.
It is also ironic that the Douglas County, Colorado, Board of Education has
passed a resolution opposing the Common Core national standards due to the
quality of the standards and on principle. Ironic because our own Worcester
County Superintendent of Education hails from Colorado.
It is not my purpose here to reiterate all of the dangers and problems with
Common Core. There have been many letters to the editor about this subject,
and there are many news articles in national papers and online (most
recently "The Coming Common Core Meltdown" Jan 23rd, *Washington Post*).
There are numerous websites devoted to the dangers of Common Core.
Inquiring minds who want to know can read all about it.
Del. Michael Smigiel has introduced legislation in the House of Delegates
to repeal Common Core. The hearing on this bill is scheduled for February 5
th. Parents, grandparents and educators who believe they know better than
unelected bureaucrats what is best for their children and students should
contact their legislators and encourage them to vote to repeal the funding
for this mess.
Sincerely,
Carol Frazier
