CCSS-Petition Against Another Attempt At Nationalizing--This Time Public Education

 Obama's Attempts At Nationalizing Health Care, Immigration and now Public Education! 

Two expert who were in the National Validation Committee of the common course standards on English Language Arts (ELA) and Math speaks out.

Sandra Stotsky,  currently a professor in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas was appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings to serve on the National Mathematics Advisory Panel in 2006.  Also she served as Senior Associate Commissioner in the Massachusetts Department of Education from 99-03.   She is raising concerns about the voice parents and local schools and the teachers will have about the actual curriculum in their local schools.  She sees very serious issues in the common core standards about what self- government means at the state and local government level.  

Dr. Jim Milgram, professor of Mathematics, Stanford is one of the four main authors of the California Mathematics Standards. He says there are two separate requirements for all the algorithm (process for problem solving).   Students are going to learn their own way of doing things (self-invented)-- many of which are wrong --then learn the standard algorithm a year or two later.  The net effect in terms of learning is that they know neither approach very well.  The quality of what is being taught is very troubling to him and that we are behind international benchmarks!

Donna Garner, retired teacher,activist and  experienced in writing standards for Texas wants us to think about the implications of these national standards.   National standards →National tests → National curriculum → Teachers’ salaries tied to students’ test scores →Teachers teaching to the test each and every day → National indoctrination of our public school children → National database ..... ... Believe it or don't.

In light of this and many other concerns, we the undersigned petition our Governor and State Board of Education to remove our state (_______________) from the move toward implementing the Common Core States Standards.  Losing  local controls through our local school boards is unacceptable no matter the good intentions.  Our Constitutional right over our children's education cannot be infringed upon. 

(Copy and Pass On--get signatures and take it to your state Governor)

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