Common Core : Asking Questions of Administrators

There are many problems concerning the Common Core standards being implemented in education throughout the state and the nation. This federal program apparently comes with training for administrators in how to deflect public discussion and opinion away from the flaws in the system, as these tactics are being seen throughout the country. That should raise alarm bells. See the article below to understand Common Core and why so many educationally alert people are concerned about it.

 

Please educate yourself on the deficiencies of Common Core. I’ve posted an earlier post on the topic—please read it. Common Core puts federal educational standards in place to dictate your children’s learning process. Federal standards must be set to the lowest common denominator so they do not disadvantage the poorest children in the most depressed areas. They prevent you from putting higher standards in place when it is possible to do so, meaning that eventually all children are educated only to the lowest standard. This pulls the entire system down. As an example, algebra completion, normally achieved in 8^th grade, under Common Core will be delayed to 9^th grade, making it impossible to take calculus in high school—a desirable program for college math students.

 

You have the constitutional right to involvement in education and school standards in your area. Common Core will take that right away from you, as parental involvement is not a part of Common Core. Your children will be better educated if local citizens are involved in educational decisions. You can adjust your area education to the best needs of local children rather than following national standards which, for instance, hold back advanced math from high school students because children in ghetto areas.

 

This information is provided by Oak Norton, formerly of the Alpine School Board, who has invested himself in understanding the concerns surrounding Common Core.

 

Asking Questions in Meetings

Published April 10, 2013 | By Oak Norton

If what happened to Christel Swasey and others in the Wasatch School District Meeting is any indication of state tactics to avoid answering your questions, you need to be prepared to take control back in a meeting. There are a few tactics that get used in meetings you need to be aware of.

1. The presenter drones on and doesn’t leave time for questions.
2. The presenter deflects your question and tries to act like nobody else is interested and they’ll address your question after the meeting.
3. The presenter works to separate you from the group during the meeting so you or your position are isolated. There are cases elsewhere, where a person might be pulled out of the room for someone to answer your question.

This is called the Delphi Technique. Read this excellent article to be prepared to defend yourself against it.

http://www.vlrc.org/articles/110.html

In general:

1. Keep a calm voice and never lose your cool.
2. Bring the person you’ve asked the question to, back on subject to answer your question. Stay focused.
3. Don’t let them deflect or delay. Just calmly reiterate that your question hasn’t been answered.
4. If someone else is being deflected, support them by asking the question again.

Read this report by Christel Swasey’s experience in a Wasatch School District meeting presentation by State Office of Education official Judy Park.

http://whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/judy-park-introduces-common-core-sage-tests-to-wasatch-school-district/

Here are some questions which you can ask at meetings. Please post your questions below in the comments.

• Where is some empirical evidence that Common Core tests are based upon legitimate educational standards?
• Why hasn’t a cost study been done to determine the actual costs of implementing common core?
• Where can I read our state’s cost analysis for implementing Common Core and its tests? What will it cost per pupil?
• Since a main selling point of Common Core was that we would have portability of students, why did Utah decide to adopt the integrated upper math version with Vermont instead of discrete years of math like all the other states?
• Did you know that Common Core delays full completion of algebra to 9^th grade while our 2007 standards set it in 8^th? This means most students in Utah will not be able to take an authentic calculus class in 12^th grade. How can we get better standards back in Utah?
• Since Common Core introduces behavioral testing and tracking of our children, how can we opt our children out of all testing and tracking? State law says I have a “fundamental liberty interest” in the education of my children and the state is only there to support me in my responsibility. If that is true, and state law says it is, I want to know the process.
• What is the amendment process for Common Core standards if we find out they are not working for us?
• Where can I see for myself the evidence that Common Core standards have been proven to be of superior quality and that they are internationally benchmarked?
• Where can I see for myself evidence that Common Core’s transformations (deleting cursive, minimizing classic literature, moving away from traditional math, etc.) –will benefit our children?
• What is the American process of representation of individuals in the Common Core education and assessments system?
• Does it seem good that the meetings of the standards writers (the CCSSO/NGA) are all closed-door meetings?
• I read that there is a 15% cap on a state adding to the Core; so what do we do if we need to add a whole lot more to actually prepare our children well?
• Although I have been told that Common Core is state-led, I missed the invitation to discuss this before it was decided for me and my children; please explain the analysis and vetting process for the upcoming national science and social studies standards.
• The Constitution assigns education to the states, not to the federal government. Also, the federal General Educational Provisons Act (GEPA) states: “No provision of any applicable program shall be construed to authorize any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution, school, or school system, or over the selection of library resources, textbooks, or other printed or published instructional materials by any educational institution or school system…“ In light of this, please explain why our state has agreed to intense micromanagement by the federal government under Common Core testing.

 

- Pam