Chamber Watch: Keeping an eye on the Chambers of Commerce Core
Today’s Article: Ohio GOP allies back the Common Core
Sub-headline: “Businesses say they need to be sure they’re getting workers with strong academic training”
Note: there is audio embedded in Today’s Article.25
Excerpt:
Business and education groups will be in Columbus this week to defend the state’s Common Core curriculum in Statehouse hearings. H.B. 597 would repeal the K through 12 education standards, which are set to go into effect this school year. Opponents see the standards as a federal overreach. For Ohio Public Radio, WYSO’s Lewis Wallace has more on why so many businesses have gotten on the Common Core bus.
Business groups like the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce have been on board ever since Ohio passed its version of the standards in 2010. Chris Kershner with the chamber says companies depend on schools for a key part of the supply chain.
“Students are the educational product. They are going through the education system so that they can be an attractive product for business to consume and hire as a workforce in the future.
Did you get that? “Students are the educational product”.
Dear Chambers of Commerce, pay attention:
Students are not products — they are individual children and they are not yours.
Why We Keep An Eye On The Chambers Of Commerce Core
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is heavily vested in promoting and pushing Common Core. As push back has grown, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan has been pushing the US Chamber to apply more pressure. State and regional Chambers have followed this lead, blanketing papers with op-eds, running television ads and billboards. In North Carolina, the NC Chamber of Commerce has been documented as a clear supporter of Common Core and have created a special education initiative called “Hire Standards” to push Common Core.
How big and hard is the NC Chamber pushing Common Core? Public Schools Forum NC board member and former NC Legislator, Gene Arnold, said outright on local television show, NCSPIN, that the Chamber would choke off campaign contributions to candidates who did not support the Common Core. Direct quote:
“The big stick the business people are using is the threat with campaign contributions could slow down.” – Gene Arnold, NCSPIN 5/15/14 (video)
Read about the US Chamber of Commerce:
- US Chamber’s “Learn More, Go Further” Common Core Site
- LL1885 Chamber Watch Articles
- StopCommonCoreNC’s Chamber Watch Articles
Read about the Chamber in North Carolina:
LL1885 
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