"I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power." - Thomas Jefferson 1820

"There is a growing technology of testing that permits us now to do in nanoseconds things that we shouldn't be doing at all." - Dr. Gerald Bracey author of Rotten Apples in Education

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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Arne Duncan Surrounded by Conspiracy Theorists. Oh, the Horror! **UPDATED with Resolution and Amendments.

Utah lawmakers are reconsidering the implementation of Common Core standards by the State Board of Education.  South Carolina is looking to possibly rescind its Common Core implementation and Arne Duncan did not take kindly to that state debating whether to reclaim its constitutional right to educate its own citizens.

Duncan called such a notion from South Carolina lawmakers "a conspiracy theory in search of a conspiracy".
 
We'll have to see if Duncan calls out more legislators as they study the ramifications of an educational reform  full of Federal mandates that bypassed state legislatures and were implemented without public vote.  The Utah lawmakers are the latest legislators determining if these unproven and untested standards are unwise, unfunded and unconstitutional.  

From the Salt Lake Tribune:

Lawmakers plan to discuss Wednesday formally asking state education leaders to reconsider their adoption of Common Core academic standards.




**UPDATED 02.29.12:



SB 287 - CORE CURRICULUM STANDARDS AMENDMENTS
http://le.utah.gov/~2012/bills/sbillint/sb0287.htm
This bill: provides that the state may exit any agreement, contract, memorandum of understanding, or consortium that cedes control of Utah's core curriculum to any other entity for any reason
SCR 13 - CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON COMMON CORE
http://le.utah.gov/~2012/bills/sbillint/scr013.htm
This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges the State Board of Education to reconsider the board's decision to adopt the Common Core standards.

  



Posted by at 11:13 PM
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1 comment:

  1. SandraFebruary 29, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    I wondered if the use of "conspiracy" was a dismissive code word for,the political righ/conservative leaning. if so, that is an error. USC Professor Emeritus Stephen Krashen has spoken clearly on so-called reforms and with teacher/writer/activist Susan Ohanian proposed a resolution to the NCTE to reject the common core English/LA standards. Diane Ravitch has spoken tirelessly on the narrowing of curriculum. SC Education professor Thomas writes with clarity here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/27/1068659/-The-Education-Games-Reform-as-Double-Speak
    Ed reformers dismiss off-handed lay ALL dissenting or critical voices, experts and evidence across ideologies.

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