Category Archives: Common Core

The Army Of Davids Fighting Common Core

Posted on July 29, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Professor Glenn Reynold’s book, An Army of Davids, has constantly been in the back of my mind whenever I am engaging in fighting Common Core. It was in my mind as I sat at the messaging and PR table for We Will Not Conform. The opposition to Common Core are an Army of Davids. The replay of We Will Not Conform event is tonight, by the way. For those of you unfamiliar with Glenn Reynolds, a.k.a. the Blogfather, visit Instapundit. I do. Every morning.

Anyway, as a blogger, I know the power of social media and the well placed headline or turn of phrase. I know how to take apart a narrative put forth by the other side. This gave me an edge in debating supporters. I use the term debate lightly. It was never debate on the standards for them. It was a debate on me. This is a crucial point. Common Core supporters did not defend the standards, they attacked the opposition. They tried to smear and demonize teachers, parents, grandparents and students from all walks of life and it has backfired in epic style.

.@POLITICO: The #CommonCore PR war: the millions have proved no match for the moms http://t.co/ewth1LhG7T #stopcommoncore #TCOT #edchat

— Pioneer Institute (@PioneerBoston) July 29, 2014 Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core, Twitter | 1 Comment

Common Core Supporters Shift Talking Point

Posted on July 28, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

If there’s one thing everyone opposing Common Core has seen, it’s the talking point from the supporters saying that opposition to Common Core is “political”.

@educationgadfly says #CCSS should have been a “quiet experiment” and blames anti-Obamaism critics http://t.co/7A4JIn3FXQ #stopcommoncore

— Stop CCSS in NYS (@StopCCSSinNYS) July 28, 2014

I’ve documented the ‘politicizing’ here in North Carolina – Rep. Cotham is one of the bigger offenders, but this talking point is a nationwide effort. Common Core supporters have a well-funded PR/messaging machine and they all tow the latest talking point lines.

Missouri Education Watchdog (MEW) has an article up documenting the latest shift.

#Commoncore is all about politics. Stop whining how it’s ‘political’. http://t.co/jplxrc2gmb #stopcommoncore @LadyLiberty1885

— Logue (@manateespirit) July 28, 2014

In a nutshell:
KEEP READING Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core | Tagged | 1 Comment

Common Core Aligned: Edulastic

Posted on July 28, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Common Core Aligned.
“…to create just these kinds of tests—next-generation assessments aligned to the common core. When the tests are aligned to the common standards, the curriculum will line up as well—and that will unleash powerful market forces in the service of better teaching.” – Bill Gates, 2009 Speech To Natl. Conference of State Legislatures

The goal is to align everything so that students and the money have no where to go but Common Core.

Last installment of Common Core Aligned, we looked at NC based Carson Dellosa Publishing. Today we’re looking at Edulastic, yet another example of industry cashing in on the Common Core aligned train. Edulastic was rolled out by SnapWiz. They’re an eLearning/Digital company. Check out their partners.

Edulastic is on Twitter and their profile says quite a bit: Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core | Tagged | Comments Off on Common Core Aligned: Edulastic

ICYMI: Common Core, We Will Not Conform On Pete Kaliner Show (Audio)

Posted on July 27, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

In case you missed it Friday, I joined WWNC 570’s Pete Kaliner in the first segment of his show. We talked about Common Core and my participation in Glenn Beck’s Common Core event ‘We Will Not Conform’. You can listen to the podcast of the show here. Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core | Tagged | Comments Off on ICYMI: Common Core, We Will Not Conform On Pete Kaliner Show (Audio)

PARCC Chief: “This is not a testing agenda; it’s a equity agenda.”

Posted on July 27, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

PARCC Chief Laura Slover’s rhetoric at the Colorado Association of School Executive’s Same Speed CCannual summer meeting was stunning.

First, she believes these tests as ‘beautiful tools’ then she goes on an tear about equity and then says they are ‘game changers’. I think Ms. Slover needs a reality check. This is a very unpopular standardized test. Statements like these are not image improvers.

Excerpt from Chalkbeat with emphasis added: Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core, Testing | Tagged | Comments Off on PARCC Chief: “This is not a testing agenda; it’s a equity agenda.”

Scotland Cty Board of Ed Confused On Common Core

Posted on July 26, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

The Scotland County Board of Education is confused on Common Core. They seem to think it’s a great idea and that the repeal of it is a bad idea. The following excerpts come from The Laurinburg Exchange’s article, School board decries state’s decision to repeal Common Core.

Scotland County’s Board seem more worried about the monkeying they are doing with test scores than with the fact Common Core is a fundamentally flawed experiment being performed on our kids. Here’s Board member Jamie Southerland expressing his test angst: Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core, Media Bias | Comments Off on Scotland Cty Board of Ed Confused On Common Core