The Common Core Debacle
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“[T]he push back is coming from, sort of, white suburban moms who, all of a sudden, their child isn’t as brilliant as they thought they were and their school isn’t quite as good as they thought they were, and that’s pretty scary.“- Obama Education Secretary Arne Duncan, dismissing widespread parent complaints about the regime’s national education program known as Common Core, Washington Post, 11/16/13.
Of course. Criticizing the latest progressive education scheme being foisted by Obama on all grade levels is public schools across the nation is – racist. And scary.
The truth is, it’s Common Core that’s scary, and push back is coming from parents everywhere. A highly unusual letter of protest signed by over 500 New York state principals notes: “[M]any children cried during or after testing, and others vomited or lost control of their bowels or bladders. Others simply gave up…“
Such visceral reactions are not the result of new tough educational standards which we all want. They’re the result of interacting with material that makes no damn sense. The pro-Common Core talking points sound good: “standards“, “academic achievement“, “accountability“. The reality, as with all things liberal, is quite the opposite.
Common Core Standards brings a shocking new level of liberal indoctrination – already in a classroom near you.
MATH: “Add 26 + 17 by breaking apart numbers to make a ten. Use a number that adds with the 6 in 26 to make a 10. Since 6 + 4 = 10, use 4. Think, 17 = 4 + 13. Add 26 + 4 = 30. Add 30 + 13 = 43. So 26 + 17 = 43.” – -3rd grade math assignment, Townhall, 10/4/13.
Reading: “A President’s job is not easy. A nation’s people do not always agree. The President’s choices affect everyone. He makes sure the country’s laws are fair. Government officials’ commands must be obeyed by all. An individual’s wants are less important than the nation’s well being.” – – 3rd grade CC indoctrination lesson, Daily Caller, 11/22/13.
History: “Refrain from giving background context or substantial instruction guidance at the outset… This close reading approach forces students to rely exclusively on the text instead of privileging background knowledge, and levels the playing field for all students as they seek to comprehend Lincoln’s address.” — CC instruction to teachers to teach the Gettysburg Address without mentioning the Civil War or the Battle of Gettysburg. Washington Post, 11/19/13.
Common Core …elevates soft skills like global awareness, media literacy, cross cultural flexibility and adaptability and creativity to equal footing with academic content. This less academic approach has, in fact been road tested in places like Connecticut and West Virginia. Predictably, the results have been dismal.” — Weekly Standard, 5/29/13.
Stupid. Confusing. Destructive. A privacy nightmare. No wonder Common Core has been dubbed “ObamaCore”.
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