A reader sent me the comments made by Rep. Linda Johnson at the most recent meeting of the Republican Women of Greater Cabarrus County meeting.

It would seem that Operation Rebrand has recruited Rep. Johnson from her comments. Rep. Johnson made the puzzling comment that we’d see “Common Core reform by January 2015”. That’s just three months of work by the commission. That is not a feasible end date for re-writing the standards line by line. Three months is barely time to address the K-3 standards, which are atrocious.

Perhaps Rep. Johnson misspoke? We can hope, but given recent statements by the Governor and Superintendent Atkinson, I doubt it.

See below the fold for the comments reported to me.
CCSS = Common Core State Standards and APUSH = Advanced Placement U.S. History.

Last night, I was a guest of one of the ladies who ‘campaigned’ state wide to get me appointed to the CC Repeal Committee. Interestingly enough, Linda Johnson was the guest speaker (filling in for Fletcher Hartsell).

Here are some of her comments on education:

“There are many, many things about the CC I like.”

Jobs are 1st priority in NC. Under the Reps.’ watch, NC’s credit has been fixed, jobs have been created, taxes lowered and a rainy day fund fat enough to more than pay for the next hurricane are in place. Captive insurance is a new & promising industry (insurance companies are some of her donors). Under the Reps.’ watch the following education issues have been tackled, but need more work: Read/Achieve, CCSS, Career/College.

“CC Reform by Jan. 2015” (I really had to scratch my head with this statement.)

Mrs. Johnson is the one (according to her words) who will need to create a way to have APUSH incorporated into the current civics education requirements. (I volunteered to help her there, I’m to email her)

There’s an effort (wasn’t too clear on if it in works or she is helping out with this) to have colleges/universities work with community colleges so credits between the 2 are more fluent. She said that all community colleges would grant AA degrees, saving the state $$ and be able to enter 4 yr as a Jr with full credit.

As of last night, the CC Repeal Committee appointees from the Representatives & Governor had been decided. We are to encourage the Senate to hurry up. The most questions were about CCSS.  She said there is a mix of lay people on Repeal. However, she stressed superintendents & principals. One lady asked who the early education expert is. No answer on that one.

There was a comment about ‘all particulars’ put into something by the 15th so there could be legislation. She never explained, or went back to this comment.

As far as DPI, Mrs. Johnson admitted was too big. They are to oversee, not to rule. When asked how to reign DPI back in, she danced around the question. Largely passed off that the newbies in Raleigh didn’t understand the power committees should have so they look for labels, not hard working folks.

CC Repeal committee, is supposed to have open, public meetings. (Yes, we can thank the Reps, for Sunshine Law, according to her).

“In education, buck stops nowhere in North Carolina”. (My favorite comment of hers for the evening.)