Alabama has made headlines in a very bad way in the last few weeks. Sen. Dick Brewbaker proposed a bill during the 2013 legislative session to repeal Alabama’s adoption of the Common Core State Standards. Right now, the bill’s fate in the legislature looks like is dead. But I know this will not be the end of this fight here in Alabama. Especially as people rely on sources such as Fox News, Glenn Beck, and Rush Limbaugh for their news. All of the hype for Common Core in Alabama is over the misleading fact that this will lead to a federal takeover of education. One of the claims is the state loses control over standards if it stays with Common Core. The fact is Alabama would retain sovereignty over state education standards. This comes straight from State Superintendent Tommy Bice.
Here is the real truth about Common Core. This is a set of learning standards, so far in language arts and math only, designed to help students become college and career ready by the time they are graduating from high school. A huge misconception is that the Common Core State Standards are somehow federally imposed and mandated standards. Actually, they were developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. In other words, the states developed the common core standards, and to date, 45 of the states, along with the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories and the Department of Defense Education Activity, have adopted them.
The unlikely passage of the Common Cole Repeal in Alabama is going to drum up a fight down in Montgomery. The people who wants to repeal Common Core are throwing out some crazy things. In the video below, Elois Zeanah spoke before the Wetumpka TEA Party and said Common Core would result in the states losing control of values and subjects in Alabama schools. She also said Common Core would dumb down education. Common Core would also invade student’s privacy and track children from preschool to retirement. Yes; she also said Common Core would cost taxpayers a lot of money.
In the video, Elois Zeanah also said Common Core would “control children’s minds to change society.” And here is a weird thought from her; “How you would like to know after dropping your children off at school to see Barack Obama teaching them.” If you have 30 minutes of your time, enjoy this interesting video.
I would like to get the facts straight about the Common Core Standards. Common Core is not going to lead to a federal takeover of education! Some people are afraid these standards is another step toward Agenda 21 from the U.N. Again, some of these right-leaning leaders are talking a lot of hot air. Teachers and local education leaders will still have local and complete control of the curriculum, delivery of instruction, and assessment. And just to be clear, every content area has always had “national standards” since the federal government was created back in the 1700’s.
Common Core was not developed by the federal government. It was developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. These standards were developed so children in America would be able to compete with children in other places in the world. In these days; many kids and families also move around a lot. Common Core would make sure all schools are teaching the same subjects on the same grade level at the same time. This will make sure no students are left behind after enrolling in a new school district.
Common Core is not dumbing down education and is not controlled by forces outside of Alabama. These standards were developed so children would be ready to enter the workforce or enter college after graduating from high school. America has lost ground in education. These standards will get America back into a higher education standard. Too many kids are leaving the education system NOT ready to be a productive adult. Common Core would make sure all children are ready for life after school! I believe these standards are better than the “No Child Left Behind Act.” By the way, these were standards developed by a Republican.
If Common Core was not good for education, than why would 45 states, along with the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories and the Department of Defense Education Activity have adopted them? This Common Core debate is another reason on why some people in Alabama needs to get their heads out of the sand and quit relying on Fox News, Glenn Beck, and Rush Limbaugh for their information. I urge all of you to watch this video below explaining what Common Core is all about. Then visit http://www.commoncoreworks.org to learn the real facts about Common Core!
Related articles
- Elois Zeanah: Her Common Core Standards propaganda broken down (ireport.cnn.com)
- Senate committee strikes bill to repeal common core standards (al.com)
- State superintendent to dispel ‘myths’ about common core curriculum standards (poll) (al.com)
- Panel Defeats Bill to Stop Ala. Common Core Goals (wtvy.com)
- Reform, reform, reform! Everyone’s talking Common Core and APPR (education.lohudblogs.com)
- A Non-Freaked Out, Focused Approach to the Common Core – Part 1 (teachingthecore.com)
