Category Archives: Common Core

Sen. Stein Politicizing, Giving Misinformation On Common Core

Posted on May 5, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

At a panel discussion hosted by Public Schools First NC on May 3rd, several legislators were on hand to discuss teacher pay and Common Core. Democrat State Senator Josh Stein upheld the tradition of ‘politicizing’ and ‘misinformation’ that the opposition of Common Core has come to know all too well. Memo to those doing the actual politicizing here: NC Replacing Common Core Means Leading, Not Following.

We’ll get to Public Schools First NC at the end of the article. First let’s look at what was said. WRAL, to their credit this time, explained a bit more about the commission to be formed, that the brand name Common Core is currently in our state statutes and in a way, corrects Senator Stein. The relevant portion is below; emphasis added is mine.

As for Common Core, Stein said he expects the legislature to abandon it.

“There is a great deal of misinformation. First, it’s not a curriculum. It’s a set of standards about what we expect students to know each year,” Stein said. “Second, it’s not a federal initiative. Third, it’s extremely popular with teachers. When you roll out a new program you expect kinks. You work through them.”

A student committee on April 24 approved a proposal to move North Carolina away from Common Core.

Although the bill does delete legislative language referencing Common Core standards, it does not take them out of play right away. Rather, the measure would create an Academic Standards Review Commission to develop standards “tailored to the needs of North Carolina’s students.”

The commission would be part of the state Department of Administration, not the Department of Public Instruction. It would be instructed to finish a first run at revising the standards by 2015, in time for the 2016 legislative session.

The revised standards would go to State Board of Education for approval, but if lawmakers don’t agree with the board’s position, they could override it and enact new standards themselves.

Now, let’s break Stein’s comment down. Continue reading →

Posted in BlueprintNC, Common Core, EDUCATION, Moral Monday, NC State Standards, NCGA | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Fay Observer Op-Ed Politicizes Common Core

Posted on May 4, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Again, those complaining the most about ‘politicizing’ the Common Core are the biggest offenders of said complaining.

Case in point — Fay Observer has a hacktastic Op-Ed up which hits the politicizing path and contains all the vitriol, rhetoric and shutuppery that Common Core opposition have come to know from Supporters. Quick snippet for your amusement:
Unfortunately, some of those with an extreme education agenda have won seats in our General Assembly and are pushing to erode the Common Core curriculum standards that educators worked so hard to put in place. Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core, Media Bias | Tagged | Comments Off on Fay Observer Op-Ed Politicizes Common Core

Charlotte Observer’s Flanno Politicizes Common Core

Posted on May 4, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Another day, another attempt to politicize Common Core from someone complaining people are politicizing Common Core….
We get a dose of “politicizing” Common Core from Charlotte Observer’s Fannie Flanno and I fire back. Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core, Media Bias | Tagged , | Comments Off on Charlotte Observer’s Flanno Politicizes Common Core

NC Replacing Common Core Means Leading, Not Following

Posted on May 3, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

“The biggest fallacy of the Common Core standards is that they have been sold to the nation without any evidence that they will accomplish what their boosters claim.” – Diane Ravitch

The next biggest fallacy is that somehow states pulling out won’t be able to replace the Common Core with something better. There will always be something better — that is, unless you’re a state locked into a copyrighted set of standards controlled by outside entities. To be clear, Common Core Standards are a race to the middle. This is what Common Core supporters are bracing for next: states who pull out and put together superior standards which include continual and best practices integration.

The question that should be turned back on the Common Core supporters is: How can we NOT do better?

Quickly,a look at two of the latest Common Core talking points regarding replacement and then a closing argument. Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core, EDUCATION, NC State Standards, NCGA | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Buncombe School Board Mtg Was Common Core Event?

Posted on May 2, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

I received word yesterday that at the Buncombe County School Board meeting, a two-hour work session was included. This work session was on Common Core. According to documents and reports of what was presented, it appears this work session was not labeled as being Common Core nor was it publicized so that parents could attend.

Yes. Can say they held it, but not have to hear diff opinions. MT @LadyLiberty1885: @BuncombeSchools why Common Core work session held today

— Mark Cates (@CarolinaCates) May 1, 2014

Upon hearing this, I checked the Buncombe County Schools website and found a simple meeting announcement on the left hand side with no topics listed. Today, that Board meeting announcement has been taken down. Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core | Tagged | Comments Off on Buncombe School Board Mtg Was Common Core Event?

Choosy Common Core Moms Know: Rep. Pittman Is What #NC82 Needs

Posted on April 30, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Shameless promotion time. Rep. Larry Pittman, along with Senator Tillman, have been out in front of the battle to get Fed Ed (Common Core) out of North Carolina and return education control to our state.

Various opponents to Rep. Pittman have made false accusations about him with regards to education. He was not afforded the opportunity to speak in his own defense as Earle Schecter was given an open mic at an alleged ‘Townhall’ held at Cox Mills High School. Well, I’m giving him that chance here.

Hear it in his own words: Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core, ELECTIONS, NCGA, Video | Tagged , | Comments Off on Choosy Common Core Moms Know: Rep. Pittman Is What #NC82 Needs