Macon County Patriots Voice Concerns over Common Core

Last week, Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) provided carefully-scripted public presentations on the Common Core. The simultaneous meetings took place in each of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. To learn more about DESE’s support of the Common Core, click here.

Each event followed the same order of events for participants: sign-in, sit at a table, listen to presentation from DESE, discuss at a table, listen to a pre-selected educator provide an overview of table discussion to the entire room and adjourn. The event was scripted with careful words; presenters were not able to comment or remark outside of the text provided to them.

Our local presentation was in Marceline; Macon County Patriots attended to learn more about the proposal. The “Common Core” is not a new curriculum or test, it is standards in math and English that will shape how the nation measures student performance. Four states have opted out of the standards at this time.

It should be noted there were no outbursts or unprofessionalism displayed by either side of the issue at the meeting. Many educators were surprised there were so many concerns over the program. Many citizens were surprised educators were not aware of or dismissed their concerns. The standards were adopted by our state board of education, not the state’s legislature; the meeting allowed the public to address their concerns with the program in a tightly controlled manner.

In general, DESE worked through local educators and bureaucrats to debunk claims that the Common Core meant more federal involvement in the education system and less local control. Many educators like the Common Core because the standards are higher, clearer and shorter than previous standards.

Concerned citizens’ main concerns included:

1. The federal government’s further involvement in local education. 
2. The collection and distribution of student and family data.
3. Funding, flexibility and copyrights as they relate to the common core.  

These meetings (and they linked take on how they went) occurred in Cape Girardeau,  Florissant, St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Marceline, Camdenton, Warrensburg and Kansas City.

Homeschoolers have rallied around this video as a call to action to ask states to opt out of the Common Core.

Concerned Women for America have asked concerned citizens to support SB 210 in response to their concerns with the program. The bill asks DESE to provide hearings in each congressional district on the subject, which may be why the department held the meetings last week.

The Missouri Education Watchdog website maintains a "Get MO out of Common Core" petition here.

MO Coalition Against Common Core is building a speaker's bureau so for meetings with you can have them give a presentation at meetings with groups that may be interested in the issue. Learn more here.

Rep. Sam Graves has joined others concerned about the Common Core.

This month, the Republican National Committee unanimously passed a resolution against Common Core Standards and student data collection.

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DESE Holding Local Meetings to Push Common Core Standards

Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education is holding meetings around the state to continue their "communication" efforts regarding Common Core Standards. These meetings across the state are being held

Thursday, May 2nd

6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

 

The meeting place for Northern Missouri is:

 

Marceline Walsworth Community Center

124 East Richie (Downtown)

Marceline, MO 64658

DESE would like you to go to their website for the information they want you to know in preparation for this meeting. http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/Common_Core.html

 The Truth About Common Core Standards

Every American parent, grandparent and citizen should be concerned about the condition of our public schools and the Federal Government intrution on America's education system. It's vital for you to get informed and attend meetings like this directed at the take over of American public schools.

Please read up on this issue and attend the meeting Thursday evening in Marceline.

 

Good points from Missouri Education Watchdog to prepare for this meeting:

  

Questions that should be asked (and answered) during this DESE presentation:

 

• Were any pilot studies done on Common Core standards before they were adopted and implemented?
• Is there 3-5 years of research available to consider CCSS "best educational practice"?
• Are they internationally benchmarked?  If so, where is the list?
• How will the student data be used?
• What 61 data points are currently being gathered on students, where is being sent and for what purpose?
• Does DESE have control over data retrieval and dissemination or does our consortia, the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortia?  Did SBAC sign an agreement with the US Department of Education to send Missouri data to the Federal Government?
• Has a cost effectiveness study been done?  If not, why not?

 

Also in preparation, here are a few things that you should know going into these meetings:

 

Missouri Legislators are fighting against Common Core Standards for our public schools.

House Bill 616 - BAHR

Senate Bill 210 - LAMPING/NIEVES

 

These meetings and the Common Core Standard Initiatives are not going well in other states:

 

Recently in Utah:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765628026/Utah-Common-Core-testing-fraught-with-flaws.html?pg=1

"Where is the evidence?" and "How will student data be used?" are excellent questions that should be asked of DESE during the May 2nd meetings.

 

Recently in Michigan:

http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2013/04/michigan-house-votes-to-defund-common-core-state-standards/

"It should be noted that Common Core State Standards were never approved by a Michigan Legislature (or any state legislature for that matter)."



Teachers and school administrators are speaking out against Common Core:

http://www.moagainstcommoncore.com/teachers-speak-out

 

On the Federal & National level:

 

Senator Chuck Grassely (R-IA) Seeks to cut off Federal funding for Common Core

http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2013/04/grassley-launches-effort-to-prohibit-common-core-funding/

 

Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) has written, and is gathering co-signers in Washington for, a letter expressing serious concerns with the manner in which the US Department of Education has involved itself with Common Core standards.

Luetkemeyer Letter Goes to Duncan With 34 Signatures

http://www.missourieducationwatchdog.com/2013/04/luetkemeyer-letter-goes-to-duncan-with.html

 

This month the RNC unanimously passed a resolution against Common Core Standards and student data collection.

http://truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-state-standards/rnc-passes-anti-common-core-resolution-at-their-spring-meeting/

 

And finally, if you're content and feel this doesn't concern you because your children/grandchildren are in private schools so it won't effect you...... Think again:

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/10/10/07private_ep.h32.html?tkn=MMOFHR1jxlUyB0rdEK8Vp4g%2F0yLyTvnkdKKl&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS1

 



From Missouri Education Watchdog
Here is a BINGO card you can use at the May 2nd meetings hosted by DESE to talk about Common Core. Check off every buzz word or phrase you hear. If you complete a row you are a winner, although there are no real winners with Common Core.

Click here for a downloadable pdf of the card. 

See you in Marceline, Thursday May 2nd at 6:00 pm!

 

For the most up to date information on DESE, Common Core Standards, student data collection:

 

http://www.missourieducationwatchdog.com/

http://www.moagainstcommoncore.com/
Senators Nieves & Lamping Speak Out Against Nat'l Education Standards
http://eureka-wildwood.patch.com/articles/senator-nieves-speaking-out-against-national-education-standards#comment_7133606


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The Federal Gov't Identity Theft of Missouri Citizens

I was in Jefferson City yesterday for an event and had the opportunity to talk with several people about the DoR Identity Theft scandal. The most common advice I received was to get as many people as possible to write, email or call their Senator and Rep and tell them that you want answers. What they need in Jeff City is proof from their constituents of the concern and outrage about the violation of law and breech of private citizens privacy. Governor Jay Nixon and his lies. The concern about the silence from Missouri Attorney General Christopher Koster, questioning why he is silent and not defending the law and the privacy rights of Missouri citizens.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijyM8yw1_hc

Please contact your Representatives and Senators and tell them you want answers. It only takes a few seconds of your time to give them the ammo they need (your voice) to fight for our liberty and our rights.

http://www.senate.mo.gov/
http://www.house.mo.gov/

For Macon County our Representative is Tim Remole:
http://www.maconcountypatriots.com/2013/02/representative-tim-remole-district-6.html

Our State Senator is Brian Munzlinger:
http://www.senate.mo.gov/13info/members/mem18.htm

A couple of quick updates:

On Tuesday, April 22nd, Representative Nick Marshall posted this:

"I was forced to file an official House Remonstrance of the State Departments of Revenue and Public Safety condemning their release of personal protected information regarding concealed carry endorsements. The Remonstrance demands that Gov. Nixon investigate, discipline, and remove any responsible members of the executive branch. Any failure of Gov. Nixon to do so will be a "willful neglect of duty" under Article VII. If the Governor does not perform his sworn duty to the People of Missouri, the House will perform ours. Ninety-Five other members signed the Remonstrance."

This scandal has also reached Washington D.C. I've shared with you Congressman Blaine Leutkemeyer's involvement. Today U.S. Congresswoman from Missouri's 4th Congressional District, Vicky Hartzler, spoke on the violation of privacy of Missouri's CCW Holders:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S3IApgV1mY

And last but the most important, pray without ceasing!!

The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16

Kerry Messer posted a prayer request this morning.

"Please pray for a godly young man who is taking a stand on the state political scene. He is facing some huge and overwhelming pressures to drop his stand against some specific unethical issues and behaviors. His is a David and Goliath situation that I am not at liberty to detail – but the Lord knows who he is and what his needs are. Please pray. Also please remain in prayer for the many elected officials around the State who are hurting from very difficult struggles in their homes directly related to the stresses of the positions they are elected to."

There are only 3 weeks left in this session and the tension and stress is high in Jeff City.

Prayer does not equip you for greater works.
Prayer is the greater work. ---- Oswald Chambers

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