General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This Teacher's Alarming Resignation Letter Shows How Much Schools Have Changed Since You Were A Kid [View all]ipaint
(3,270 posts)"Why do New York State Education Commissioner John King and [Board of Regents' chair] Tisch refuse to slow down New Yorks rushed Core implementation, despite outcry from the public?
If parents, teachers and taxpayers had the time to critically examine the curriculum, they would ask the hard questions that would lead to its unraveling. This is not just a math problem. There are English/Language Arts vendors producing $14 million worth of New York curriculum as well. Recently ELA modules were ridiculed at a local school board meeting in upstate New York.
There are big questions that the press needs to ask about Common Core Inc. and all of the vendors that are receiving public money. There is also an overarching question that should be asked: Is this an attempt to create a national curriculum by having federal tax dollars flow to New York State and then out again to an organization committed to Common Core curriculum development? And to all of the business leaders who so enthusiastically support the Common Coredo you want your future workers to count like Sally? Is this the best curriculum that more than $28 million can buy? I think not. It is time we take a look with eyes wide open."
http://dianeravitch.net/2013/11/25/carol-burris-follow-the-money-for-common-core-implementation/
A team of two dozen well-paid analysts embedded in the State Education Department is having a dramatic impact on a reform agenda that's causing controversy throughout New York.
None are public servants.
Supported with $19 million in donations from some of the nation's wealthiest philanthropists, the Regents Research Fund team makes up a little-known think tank within the education agency. It is helping drive reforms that affect the state's 3.1 million public school students and employees of almost 700 school district...
Barely heard of outside education circles and a mystery even within them, the "Regent fellows" are paid from entities such as the Gates Foundation and some salaries approach $200,000 a year. The arrangement is stirring concern in some quarters that deep-pocketed pedagogues are forcing their reform philosophies on an unwitting populace, and making an end run around government officers.
"We're a public education system," said Carol Burris, principal of South Side High School in Long Island's Rockville Centre. "Having the wealthy pay for it, you're seeing an agenda that is being pushed ... at a rapid pace, and outside the system of public accountability."
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Education-reform-backed-by-the-wealthy-5006670.php
Is common core that wonderful and groundbreaking that we give up the "public" in public schools in order to funnel yet more billions into the coffers of the top .05%?
Is really that benign and unfairly maligned?
The testing goes hand in hand. This is just the beginning.
http://www.testprepreview.com/common-core-test-prep.htm
http://www.smarterbalanced.org/practice-test/