Why The Left Doesn't Want Common Core Rescinded

Agenda driven curriculum courtesy of Common Core?

A previous post explained why Republicans don't want Common Core standards rescinded:

Common Core standards (written by private companies) have mandated this enormous data retrieval.  The mandates have created  a niche for private companies to compel states to spend money on these systems.  The states have to provide the data; the private companies are delighted to supply this need.   THIS is why the Republicans are loath to rescind the standards.  If there are no standards, there is no vehicle/mandate to require this data.  No data means no private start ups to gather the data.  It doesn't matter to the Republicans that these private start ups are using Federal and state money for their "entrepreneurial" ventures. 

It's just a business venture for these companies.  They don't care what the content is, they will be making  huge profits on the crafting of assessments and providing the necessary infrastructure for implementation.  Upon reflection, a better title for the previous article should be "Why Capitalists Don't Want Common Core Standards Rescinded".  Viewing  the top Obama donors indicates political affiliation includes the left in this capitalist club.   The goal for corporations/private companies is to make as much money as they can from these mandates.  


It's a win win situation not only for the capitalists, it's a dream for left leaning groups as well.  They capitalize on the standards the capitalists are profiting from and using the framework for their agenda.  From Environmental Education Initiative in California and Beyond:

The California Initiative for Education and the Environment states on their website "California is currently poised to lead the nation in environmental literacy with the Education and Environment Initiative (EEI). More can and should be done to understand our relationship with the environment, and we believe the best place to begin is in California's classrooms." Though I feel that the woods or climbing a tree might be a better place to start and I'm sure the folks at Children and Nature would agree, California has once again done the right thing by investing in two of our most valuable resources, youth and the environment.

While I was in San Francisco, I had the pleasure to spend some time with Michael Leifer, co-founder of ecodads (Eco-Dads) who are spearheading a movement to fix education, create a new economy, and inspire environmental stewardship. Basically ecodads are creating and giving away free "Environmental Edutainment" apps based on the states' Common Core Standards and Next Generation Science Standards and district superintendents,' CAL\EPA, CalRecycle, Cal State Parks and the California Dept of Ed's CREEC Resource show support. 

These ecodads will "fix" education by using Common Core standards/assessments to push their particular message.  Not only that, they will be able to create a new economy with their educational message and instruct students on their ideas on what environmental stewardship encompasses.  How will they do this?  Common core implementation and funding mechanism allows this practice: the "public private partnership", otherwise known as the capitalist gravy train.  This quasi-public framework uses taxpayer money for capitalistic profit and left leaning agendas:

The goal of these fun, interactive apps is to put the curriculum into the hands of the students and give them access to all of the separate and valuable education resource providers. Ecodads are blazing the trail for "this type of private public partnership that brings new innovation, collaboration and passion to the task of supporting students' access to powerful learning opportunities in environmental education", as Kris Munro, Assistant Superintendent, Santa Cruz City Schools states.

(Hmm.  A Missouri state senator insisted Common Core standards would not drive curriculum.  Either the senator is wrong or the ecodads are mistaken.)  What is the ultimate agenda of the ecodads?

If we are lucky enough to see this emerge as a cultural revolution that honors nature, raises eco-literate children, and embraces the whole human community as one global family, then perhaps we can enjoy the comforts of our cozy modern life without the threats associated with a warming planet.

Maybe instead of accepting some group's vision of a cultural revolution, students should be educated in the Kurt Vonnegut manner of learning.  From Althouse:

 "As for your term papers, I should like them to be both cynical and religious."

"I want you to adore the Universe, to be easily delighted, but to be prompt as well with impatience with those artists who offend your own deep notions of what the Universe is or should be."

Kurt Vonnegut, to his Iowa Writers' Workshop class in 1965 (reprinted in this collection of his letters).

Substitute "one global family" for "the Universe" and you get the idea.  I wonder if the left leaning groups will be providing a free app so students can access the Constitution, Bill of Rights and an understanding of the difference between state and federal power.  Probably not.  I'm not holding my breath that American public school children will learn that the individuals are greater than the state. I'm sure there would be a huge outcry on "indoctrination of our kids"!  Those crazy people on the right are trying to drive their agenda!  One of these "crazy right wingers" commented on the article:

"California has always been known for its technology, innovation, green initiatives, and movie stars adopting social causes." Too bad California is also known for 167 Billion in debt, schools in the lower half of state rankings, the worst credit rating of any state ever, high crime rate and anti bussiness restrictions that are pushing out companies not to mention one of the highest unemployment rates and insane cost of living. And those rolling blackouts are awesome making you pay other states for their energy..oh and lack of water for your fields. But as long as you have your head in the sand everything is a ok.

Our children in SBAC (and most likely PARCC as well) will become citizens beholden to David Coleman, his minions and their agendas.  Aren't Common Core standards swell?  They are as long as you can control the content and make a fortune in the crafting and implementation.  Somehow I don't think Kurt Vonnegut would approve of them in the least.