If you've been following the news even a little bit, you're aware that the battle over the nationally-driven school initiative known as Common Core is growing almost daily, and is being waged in just about every state in our nation. And finally, the issue has become front and center in New Hampshire as well, especially because both school boards in the city of Manchester and the town of Alton already decided against its further implementation in their schools. The Nashua school board is also considering putting the brakes on its introduction in their schools, as is Londonderry's school leaders. Expect to see several similar developments in communities across the state. Because of its unknown costs and several other factors of major concern to parents and school boards throughout our state, several pieces of legislation that deal with Common Core have been filed for consideration by NH legislators in their upcoming 2014 session.
Here in Bedford, Common Core implementation has quietly begun, but a recent email sent out to Lurgio school parents by its principal certainly seems to indicate that it is already causing problems for a whole lot of that school's students. Bedford school administrators contend that they are neither supporting nor opposing Common Core, but are simply implementing it because the state has signed on as a participant. While we have heard no hue or cry in either direction coming from the Bedford School Board (at least not publicly}, at least one school board member is currently banging her drum in support of it. This week, Cindy Chagnon was a panelist before state legislators during a pro-Common Core day-long seminar put together for them by Common Core supporters. No presentations were included by the seminar's organizers by critics who specifically outline and substantiate their many objections to its adoption in New Hampshire. So much for presenting both sides of an issue.
Over the past few weeks, my "Tell It Like It Is" show has already devoted 3 chapters to the Common Core issue. One of these shows was with nationally-recognized and acclaimed educational experts Dr. Sandra Stotsky and Jamie Gass. Because of the widespread interest in that show, and because it was impossible to present all of their information in only one show, I'm pleased to announce that a second show with them was taped last week, and another will soon follow.
That second show with them titled "More from the Experts on Common Core" will begin airing today, Friday, November 1 on BCTV Channel 16, and will continue airing twice daily through to Thursday evening, November 7. The schedule for such is as follows:
Friday/Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday - 12:30 PM, 8:00 PM
Saturday/Monday/Wednesday - 2:00 PM, 10:00 PM
For those without cable access and for those who prefer to watch it on their own schedules, it can be seen by going to the show's website at www.tellitlikeitisnh.com . On the top toolbar, simply click on Issues, and then click on Most Recent Shows.
To see all of the shows on Common Core, simply click on Issues, then click on Issues 2. You'll then see the bar Common Core. Clicking on that will give you access to all four shows already completed.
Common Core is not just an issue important to parents of kids currently enrolled in grades K through 12 or to those who have kids who will soon start school. It is an important issue for all taxpayers. At a total cost of implementation calculated to be in the billions of dollars, it is a subject that begs for precise examination. While its rather self-serving originator and financier Bill Gates believes that it is the answer to all educational woes in our country, there is an exploding nationwide concern that it is instead just another federally-pushed new educational initiative even worse than other disastrous national education programs that wound up being scuttled.
Learn about Common Core, and through your own due diligence, form your own opinions. Your kids, and/or your wallets, are in vital need of your attention.
