Audio link to interviews--with Betty Peters with Donna Garner--pointing to troubling plans and effect on boys(at bottom half of interview)
Common Core Standards--Who really is behind it?
A. The Bill Gates Money Jump Start:
The Gates foundation gives nearly four times as much annually to education as the Walton Family Foundation. Could there be ulterior motives behind such benevolence and such great PR--some wonders about it. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation gave 25 states money to help apply for Obama's Race to the Top grants. It also gave 35 million since January 2008 to the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and other organizations developing and promoting the common core standards. Obama praises the standards movement but cannot fund it directly as it is unconstitutional. Bill Gates Foundation however has stepped in to fill the gap. (However as in Arne Duncan's speech below they will fund the assessments.*)
An article dated Nov 12, 2008 SEATTLE cites the foundation’s $500 million investment in experimenting with performance-based teacher pay systems; another $500 million toward creating data systems; advocacy work pushing for national standards; and efforts to create a national test distributed to states and school districts in the country, free of charge for now. Some are speculating that what he's spent is chump change as his company may eventually reap a lot as government spending on K-12 education is estimated at more than a whopping $500 billion yearly.
Bill Gates, announced his new initiatives to a private meeting of about 100 school officials, union leaders, and policy experts such as: " the presidents of the two major American teachers unions; the current U.S. Education Secretary, Margaret Spellings; at least one former Education Secretary, Dick Riley, who served under President Bill Clinton; and several people named as possible Education Secretary in the Barack Obama administration now being formed."
B. Enter Achieve:
In April 2009, representatives from 41 states met with CCSSO and National Governors Association representatives in Chicago and agreed to draft a set of common standards for education.
They commissioned Achieve to draft the new "common core" standards by summer '09 and grade-by-grade standards by the end of the year. Achieve work-groups met in private and the development work was conducted by persons who were not, with apparently only a single exception, K-12 educators. The work groups were staffed almost exclusively by employees of Achieve, testing companies (ACT and the College Board), and pro-accountability groups (e.g., America's Choice, Student Achievement Partners, the Hoover Institute).
C. Obama's plan:
Obama's Sec. of Ed Arne Duncan's speech at 2009 Governors Education Symposium June 14, 2009 Cary, North Carolina
He states the following:
Perfect Storm for Reform
• Obama effect
• Leadership on the Hill and the Unions
• Proven strategies for success
• The Recovery Act -- $100B
"But if all we do is save jobs, we will miss this opportunity – which is why we are also using this recovery money to drive reform"
"There has never been this much money on the table and there may never be again"
"Once new standards are set and adopted you need to create new tests that measure whether students are meeting those standards. Tonight -- I am announcing that the Obama administration will help pay for the costs of developing those tests."*
"Today, perhaps for the first time, we have enough money to really make a difference."
Money indeed-- from the American people to implement the plan.
D. Mr. Lou Gerstner's suggestions:
Wall Street Journal article Nov 23, 2008-- See Mr. Lou Gerstner suggestion to the president elect Obama:
..."I’m going to suggest is that he convene the 50 governors, and the first thing they do is they abolish the 16,000 school districts we have in the United States. Sixteen thousand school districts are what we’re trying to cram this reform through...
These organizations stand in the way of what we want to do.
Now, the governors could decide, we’ll keep them as advisory, we can keep them as community support, but they will not be involved in the fundamental direction of public education in America. Second, this group of governors will then select 50 school districts, plus I’d say 20 major cities, so we got 70 school districts. Seventy instead of 16,000.
They will within one year develop a national set of standards for math, science, reading and social studies. Twelve months after that they will develop a national testing regime, so that there’ll be one day in America where every third, sixth, ninth and twelfth grader will take a national test against a national curriculum."
And as Chairman of Achieve--his plans are being carried out thanks to Bill Gates money and the administration of O'bama.
So really there are many behind the common core standards including all three named on the title. They have pooled their resources. And with the perfect storms in healthcare, jobs etc., which most parents are still trying to figure they can hardly pay attention to the future of America--their children. And with the flowery words in the presentations of the common core states standards the ugly truth has been beautifully hidden. America has monied and powerful people that think they know best for your children and you are not a part of the equation (just in the payment). I hope you will no longer be ignorant to this precious foundation of the future of America--but be wary and share your thoughts with your governors (governors can be the key--hear interview).
E. Enter Kevin Jennings Dream:
Kevin Jennings, the safe schools czar in the Dept of Ed (that unlike the green czar, Van Jones could not be removed--though some in Congress tried)has plans for our kids. Dr. Sandra Stotsky, one of the professors in the validation committee, would not affirm these common core standards and one of the reason is there is so much left out of the standards.
Indeed they have made "room" for affecting thoughts of generations of children. Kevin Jennings has said he looks forward to the day when “promoting homosexuality” in schools will be seen in a positive light (find out more on plans click here.)
F. The Church disconnect of their role in government--remember this nation shed tyranny due to the warnings and help of the church. Have we failed and are we on the way to living in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah? Media and schools may both be promoting that to our children.
“Temptations (that is, snares, traps set to entice to sin) are sure to come; but woe to him by or through whom they come! It would be more profitable for him of a millstone were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea, than that he should cause to sin or be a snare to one of these little ones.” Luke 17:1&2 Amplified.
Those snares are on the way and it is through the Dept. of Ed. Our children are no longer safe and most citizens are too tired to do anything. Would you please be the one to help take a stand and protect them, your right as parents and the future of this nation? First step is get informed-share it with your church- click here and maybe a petition. Listen to interviews and learn more about the common core standards and be sure to PRAY (the founding fathers did and it made all the difference).