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Education

Common Core’s Uniform Doesn’t Fit American Students

Oct. 29, 2012 12:48am

Casey Given is a policy analyst covering education and labor issues at the Americans For Prosperity Foundation.

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Throughout the presidential debates, Barack Obama repeated a statement that may sound strange to the average American. Speaking on education, the president twice noted that his administration has been working with 46 states to implement school reform. While he did not explicitly cite the initiative by name in either of the first two debates, Obama was referring to the Common Core State Standards – a national curriculum that 46 states and the District of Columbia have adopted over the past two years.

Though only given passing mentions, it’s a small miracle that the president has made any reference to this underreported effort at all. Both candidates and their parties have largely remained silent on Common Core until now. In fact, one recent poll by the D.C.-based nonprofit Achieve shows that 79 percent of Americans know “nothing” or “not much” about Common Core. As a result, millions of parents across the country send their children to school every day without any idea that American education as we know it is drastically changing.

So, what is the Common Core? Supposedly they are a “state-led effort” by the National Governor’s Association and Council of Chief State School Officers aimed at achieving greater uniformity in what American students are taught across state lines. But, make no mistake about it, Common Core amounts to a federal mandate. The Obama administration has practically required its adoption for states to be eligible for federal benefits such as the multimillion-dollar Race to the Top grants and waivers from No Child Left Behind’s burdensome benchmarks.

Like almost all of Washington’s centralized solutions, Common Core fails to make the grade. While created with the good intention of reducing the student achievement gap between states, it ignores the larger disparities within the states themselves. As the Brookings Institution aptly noted in its 2012 Brown Center Report on American Education, “The variation within states is four to five times larger than the variation between them” for scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress – widely accepted as the yardstick to measure student performance. Common Core completely ignores these internal inequalities, focusing on states rather than the individual needs of our schools and children. They are looking at the wrong problem for our schooling woes.

Indeed, Brookings’ report casts doubt on the notion that curriculum should be the center of educational reform at all. It cites a 2009 study by Grover “Russ” Whitehurst that investigated whether the rigor of states’ educational standards was correlated with their students’ NAEP scores. He found none. Unsurprisingly, tailoring a single curriculum to children from diverse backgrounds and with different levels of skill is an impossible task.

American school children have already suffered through enough standards-based educational reforms like Bill Clinton’s Goals 2000 and George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind. Despite the reforms, no major gains in student achievement have been seen on NAEP whatsoever even with dramatic increases in education funding. Yet, both presidential candidates continue saying the same clichés about further increasing education funding and hiring more teachers without mentioning real reform and barely recognizing Common Core – a policy that will cement standards-based educational reform’s failure in the states.

Enough is enough. Parents should start demanding that their elected officials stand up against Common Core’s one-size-fits-all uniform that is not fitted to their children’s individual needs. Rather, the only solution suited for every single student is school choice, where parents are given greater freedom in deciding which school is best able to meet their child’s needs. Until such demands are made, Common Core will only continue to receive passing mentions in discussions and decision-making.

Casey Given is the state policy analyst with Americans for Prosperity.

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Comments (21)

squatch6
Posted on April 23, 2013 at 10:08pm
In depth research by Karen Bracken. Common Core: Subversive Threat to Education presented by Karen Bracken http://youtu.be/0X0EFeH25bw

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jlwplusdmw
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 11:45am
We in Oklahoma have also been working on ridding our state of this particular piece of federalized nonsense. We have spent nearly three years now studying, researching and compiling information on the Common Core and other Obama ‘reforms’. Our paper on the topic can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/57777087/Common-Core-State-Standards-and-Race-to-the-Top-An-Introduction-to-Marxism-101
In addition, through Race to the Top, states are collecting unprecedented amounts of data on public school, private school and home school students without parental consent. Our papers on that topic can be found here: http://www.restoreokpubliceducation.com/node/748 and here: http://www.restoreokpubliceducation.com/node/759
Bottom line – parents are losing parental authority to an authoritarian state more and more EVERY DAY! We MUST stop this NOW!

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didmkrmra
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 4:51pm
I wrote to you about a month ago, requesting that you look into the Common Core Standard and make people aware of it. You have exceeded my expectations, and I am very happy! Thank you for speaking the truth, Glenn and staff, and for helping us spread the word about this horrific educational program. Your voice is SO much louder than ours. You are truly the BEST!!

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Eblaze44
Posted on October 30, 2012 at 5:50pm
Teacher’s Union and Government schooling – what do you expect. VOTE

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megbyu
Posted on October 30, 2012 at 12:42pm
The website I have posted has many national articles. It would be a great explanation of Common Core nationwide, not just for those living in Utah. It will, however, give scary examples of what we are seeing here in a very conservative state. I can’t believe this issue is not a national outcry!! This is the education (indoctrination) of our children. I’m amazed at my good, conservative friends when I discuss this with them. They look at me like I’m crazy. When Mitt Romney was asked about Common Core, he said he was against it and felt each state needed to decide for themselves what they need. He is very against a federal education policy. I think he knows more about Common Core than he is letting on. I don’t think this can quickly be talked about during a campaign. There are WAY too many things to uncover and the media would never comply.

And please when reading info on Common Core, look at the connections to the Global Education initiative. Their goals are VERY troublesome to say the least.

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- Mrs.Cee
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 2:50am
  Megbyu, I totally picked up on that during the debate, and I cannot believe that nobody has ever really discussed it. I would love to see Romney take on some good advisors on how to deal with the education issue. We cannot go on with the stupidity of the education system we have now. During my Masters I compared China, a former communist country, and United States, and the conclusion of my research was that US is moving in the direction of where China is trying to move away from. Right now China is trying to implement some new educational policies that are more reflective of where America was more than 50 years ago, because they recognized that that is the only way they will produce a creative workforce that will be innovative and resourceful. America is going where China is, because we are so enamored with the fact that their students do so well on tests. I could go on and on, but I only have some many characters remaining. Let’s just hope and pray that Romney will have the vision to get rid of the federal education department.
  
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megbyu
Posted on October 30, 2012 at 12:33pm
There IS so much more to this. This absolutely is a global initative sponsored by the Gates Foundation among others. I have been following a brilliant man here in Utah who has compiled an enormous amount of research. The things he posts have to do with every state, not just ours. As parents fight this awful curriculem, it is amazing the response from our state education representatives. They will not answer questions and and respond with vitriol and fear tactics (ala Alinsky). One of my children just returned to public school after spending K-8 in a wonderful Charter school. The options available to her under the new Common Core curriculem were ridiculous. When my son entered the public school in 9th grade, he had many options in his math studies. He was significantly ahead of the majority of public school children and was able to find a class that challenged him. With this new Common Core, they have ONE option in 9th grade. They can take Algebra 1 only. Any other class would have to be taken online or at another school. This math curriculem will not have children in Utah at Calculus level by their senior year. This Common Core is supposedly to help us be more “globally competitive”. NONSENSE!! My 6th grader is doing the same math as my 9th grader now. There is also a movement in Common Core to track our children. Please refer to this wonderful website. http://www.utahnsagainstcommoncore.com/blog

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- Eblaze44
  Posted on October 30, 2012 at 5:49pm
  So, YOU have an option – it’s called home schooling – or pay for your childs education – it’s up to you. Don’t expect more from your GOVERNMENT schools.
  
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- Mrs.Cee
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 2:39am
  @Megbyu
  Who is the person you said has done the research? Last year I finished my masters in education and my thesis was based on the way the federal government has created a centralized education system with the implementations of the various “reforms” which in turn has infringed on our personal liberty. The research I’ve done points to this yet no one seems to care, including conservatives. I believe it is all due to a lack of understanding of what education should be, what it is, and how it should be offered. I have fought a long and hard battle throughout my entire masters program because of all the progressive ideology that was part of the curriculum, as well as the unapologetic Marxist theories that were being shoved down our throats. Two main educational theorists we were made to read and study were Freire and Horton. I thought I was going to go into a mental breakdown when I saw what my classes were all about, especially since I am originally from a former communist country and recognized the language immediately. As a teacher I have to put up with more nonsense than anyone can imagine. Many of my colleagues are upset over all the regulations and ridiculous state mandates we have to follow, but none recognize that in the first place it is the feds that are intruding into our lives with their boots of steal, and two it is the liberal agendas and progressive ideology that is killing our students and our personal liberty.
  
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- carbonfootprints
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 4:51pm
  I have been in contact with ON from Utah. He and the others involved in Utah, are helping me put together a movement here in Idaho.
  
  For those who think they can escape this by homeschooling, think again. Read:
  http://truthinamericaneducation.com/home-schoolprivate-school/
  
  And
  http://www.utahnsagainstcommoncore.com/and-then-they-came-for-the-homeschoolers/
  
  Report this comment
jahr28
Posted on October 29, 2012 at 11:28pm
Common Core is part of Race to the Top and most State opted in to get Federal money. The school administrators and teachers are trying to figure out the curriculum. And my kids are the first ones through the first run of the curriculum. It is global in nature too.

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- mom4times
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:52am
  and it really sucks !…i’ve seen it for the last 2 yrs now and still haven’t gotten a handle on it…..a lot of the teachers in my kids school don’t like it either
  
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BlazeMom
Posted on October 29, 2012 at 10:54pm
@phillycornerboy… Did u notice the outraged electorate on healthcare? Would you describe that effort as apathetic? If states want money for education, they need to embrace common core. Only 4 states are refusing last I checked. And people wonder why homeschooling is so mainstream….

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- phillycornerboy
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 1:47am
  yes mom, healthcare is a fine example. sadly, only one. perhaps, we should use healthcare as a fine exmple of what’s needed to be done elsewhere. a lesson in civic responsibility…our system works best with active participation. WE THE PEOPLE.
  
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ski247
Posted on October 29, 2012 at 8:57pm
I personally am very against Common Core. Here are a few places to get info if you don’t know much about it. Be aware of the data gathering they are doing on our students! Not to mention the Classical Literature they are removing from the classroom. Don’t forget the cost. I don’t know about your state but mine… this will take the bank and more.
http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/pdf/120222_CCSSICost.pdf
http://truthinamericaneducation.com/
http://whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com/
http://susanohanian.org/show_commentary.php?id=830

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- carbonfootprints
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 4:52pm
  stopcommoncore.com is another really good one.
  
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phillycornerboy
Posted on October 29, 2012 at 8:43pm
the indoctrination of your children has been going on for decades. the longer they are in school the dumber they become, example…ever speak to a college grad… ignorance wrapped in a $100,000 degree. the progressives’ weakening of America continues unchalleged. remember this AFTER the election. voice your opinion unceasingly until a resolution is found. STAND, SPEAK, ACT.

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BlazeMom
Posted on October 29, 2012 at 9:54am
As a parent of children in public school (because I can’t afford private at this time) I can assure you the states are WELL AWARE of Common Core. The are frantically implementing the requirements in yearly phases to keep their funding. I have to laugh at the thought “Parents should start demanding that their elected officials stand up against Common Core’s one-size-fits-all uniform that is not fitted to their children’s individual needs.” NEWSFLASH: THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT PARENT’s OPINIONS! And those parents who actually an overflow of downtime to fight the DOE Golaith couldn’t recruit reinforcements to champion this cause because THEY ARE BUSY raising their families and focusing on what they can control. I can’t control Common Core’s future. That would be akin to trying to change welfare reform in my state. I’m more likely to spend my time on a local issue that will impact our local schools.

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- phillycornerboy
  Posted on October 29, 2012 at 8:47pm
  the silence and apathy of the parents, indeed all of us, is the very reason that these things happen. if YOU don’t ACT, they won’t stop. ACT, NOW.
  
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- Pigpen
  Posted on October 29, 2012 at 10:31pm
  Go ask for the budget from the school board. Look for the “legal graft”… you know, where one of the school board’s brother-in-law has been paid over $1 million dollars to YEARLY upgrade the school district’s internet access? THAT is why your school budget is MILLIONS of dollars but your kids’ teachers are constantly begging for cash from you parents! Pull at that thread and you will see the SOBs squirm. BUT BEWARE! The only crooks bigger than the crooks in Washington D.C. are the crooks at your local school boards and city councils! And that is a fact!
  
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GenuineGalThoughts
Posted on October 29, 2012 at 7:42am
I honestly believe there is WAY MORE to this! Last night I read the article linked below. It talks about Obama’s “call for education in the US and project to expand education in Kenya.” Interesting, in Kenya (currently Christian majority) he is partnered with the Saudi royal family??? Their explicit goal in Kenya is to transform them into an Islamic majority and establish and spread Sharia Law!

TO ACHIEVE THIS, his Mama Sarah started a “foundation” — 90 percent of funds raised are RAISED FROM US AND EUROPE Donors, SOLICITED AS HUMANITARIAN AID for orphans and underprivileged children, including children affected by HIV/AIDS.

IT TURNS OUT, the bulk of the “Sarah Fund” goes not to widows and orphans but TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY SHARIA AT the most influential Wahhabist CENTERS IN SAUDI ARABIA.

This article eludes to this plan being the same in the US via a statement “all the troublesome detail that typically gets hidden in an English translation.”

“IT’S ALL A JIHADI KENYAN SCAM” — Walid Shoebat, Arab researcher, “And it’s not as though ["O"] is unaware of his Kenyan family workings, since Musa on Al-Jazeera disclosed that President ["O's"] favorite uncle, Sayid Hussein Obama, was selected by ["O"] and by the family in Kenya to act as the main conduit IN RELAYING THE FAMILY’S ACTIVITIES TO THE WHITE HOUSE.”

OBAMA FAMILY BUSTED IN SHARIAH SCHEME — see article and videos at http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/obama-family-behind-sharia

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