Yesterday morning, Governor Herbert made a major announcement about Common Core. He’s called for the Utah A.G. to do a legal review in regards to potential federal intrusion in the standards process, a review of the standards by Utah educators, and asking for parental feedback on the standards. I was contacted by Ben Wood at the Deseret News and asked for a comment. Here’s what I sent Ben after reviewing the Governor’s speech and press release (http://www.utah.gov/governor/news_media/article.html?article=10183) which included comments about SAGE testing and data collection.
Oak: “I applaud the Governor for initiating a review of the situation. There are a number of things I think have been missing from the discussion on Common Core, and I welcome a review by the AG’s office, particularly if it extends to just how much control of Utah’s education system policies the federal government controls. I agree with the Governor that local control is paramount, and unfortunately, what the state office of education has done is consistently tried to turn this discussion into one about the standards, instead of where our real issues lie with the major reforms we adopted as part of the “Common Core state standards” package, which anyone can read if they take the time to go to the source documents. There are some significant issues with the standards, but they aren’t on a “line item” basis. Alignment with other states is now allowing federal organizations like the College Board to direct curriculum based on how they control college tests like the ACT and SAT. There are some significant challenges we face and it is paramount that we do everything in our power to shift to true local control where parents, teachers, and students have maximum control over the educational pathway our children pursue.”
What should happen is we get the state auditor to investigate all the flows of money as well as the attorney general investigating all the reforms and all aspects of federal control in Utah’s education system.
To read Ben’s article, click here:
To read the governor’s speech, click here:
Gov Herbert’s Remarks – Putting the best interest of our students first (PDF file – 43k)
This review is a small step in the right direction BUT I am skeptical that Governor Herbert is on the side of removing Common Core and federal control of our school system in Utah since HE is the one that brought it into Utah and he proud of that fact. He is finally getting push back by parents and the public against common core but I believe this review is just a way of feeding us crumbs of hope to throw common core out. I believe he is solidly for common core. CC has ruined mathematics, literature, and history–teaching a “world order” curriculum. The new math is discouraging children that use to love math. Literature has dropped great pieces of literature and substituted reading government pamphlets. History now emphasizes reading about communist leaders and dropping biographies of OUR great US presidents. If you want a better curriculum – let the state and parents decide what is taught. HUGE DATA collection is being taken and stored on each child and HIS family to be used by the government as “they” see fit. Stop Common Core NOW and throw it out of Utah–or the federal government WILL teach your children what they want–communist countries all have common core to CONTROL the people and design their own propaganda to teach your children. Parents, please wake up, don’t let this happen in Utah!!!
In Washington County the County School Superintended met with a group of us for 2 hours with a number of School Board officials, we aired our grievances regarding the illegality upon which Common Core was imposed on our state, the illegal letter sent to all the parents assuring that Common Core was not in Utah and the illegal use of state funds to run a federal program, common core, in Utah. We begged him to lead the State in eradicating Common Core out of Utah and stand on principles. His reply was that he did not think the people of Washington County were concerned with Common Core in our county. He did admit to downloading the information on the letter from a website and signed the letter. He admitted and/or not disagree about the illegality and the imposition of the program upon our state and the deal making of higher officials to institute Common Core in Utah. UTAH STAND UP AGAINST COMMON CORE AND RALLY THE TROOPS AGAINST GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND LET THEM KNOW OF YOUR DISGUST AGAINST OUR CONSTITUTION.
As a teacher, I am concerned about the direction of Common Core. Just reading Cass Sustein’s article on “Open Brain, Insert Idealogy”, is chilling. To know that an unchecked government entity is openly discussing this is enough for teachers and parents to take heed. Due to the respect I have for my students and parents, I teach truth and facts over my opinion. It is not my place nor should it be a government agency’s agenda to form group mentality through un false information. For a government program, using our tax money, to control the minds of high school students through brainwashing techniques in our schools is outrageous and must be stopped.
One point I do not hear much about is the subtle brainwashing of the students!
Here is an example: The verbal content of a “math” problem strongly suggests that to be a “vegetarian” is wonderful vs being a meat eater that causes pain to animals, the same animals that are raised only for meat . . . you know, the ones that help cause global warming! Come on people . . . get inside the program and see what is really going on, and quite drinking the Kool-aid.
If you thought you had input, or that your opinion mattered, or that the governor really is dedicated to “Strengthening Utah Education for our Students”, then he has laid those delusions to rest here and now.
The governor makes it plain that, “in Utah, parents and teachers, principals and local school board members” get to cooperate with the State School Board, who “are–and always will be– the primary decision makers.” He further states that “They should determine what is taught and how it is taught. I state unequivocally that today, we will not cede that authority or responsibility to anyone else.” The state school board is the puppet body in charge, because “Anyone else” would necessarily include parents and teachers, principals and local school board members.
A nice review board that focuses our collective attention, budget, and precious time on standards alone will help to delay the rising uproar until it is too late, too late to cede that power to parents and teachers, principals and local school board members.
His office minions are furiously responding to email and letters and phone calls from angry citizens with heart felt appreciation for our effort to contact his office, but he and they have failed to answer a single question from anyone I know. Of course he can not provide everyone with a substantive response, does that also mean he should reply to no one at all?
In Washington County the County School Superintended met with a group of us for 2 hours with a number of School Board officials, we aired our grievances regarding the illegality upon which Common Core was imposed on our state, the illegal letter sent to all the parents assuring that Common Core was not in Utah and the illegal use of state funds to run a federal program, common core, in Utah. We begged him to lead the State in eradicating Common Core out of Utah and stand on principles. His reply was that he did not think the people of Washington County were concerned with Common Core in our county. He did admit to downloading the information on the letter from a website and signed the letter. He admitted and/or not disagree about the illegality and the imposition of the program upon our state and the deal making of higher officials to institute Common Core in Utah. UTAH STAND UP AGAINST COMMON CORE AND RALLY THE TROOPS AGAINST GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND LET THEM KNOW OF YOUR DISGUST AGAINST THE VIOLATION OF OUR CONSTITUTION.