The Common Core or College and Career Readiness System is masquerading as good reform but is in fact, the greatest fraud being perpetrated upon the American people, and is dependent upon data collection for the total implementation of it. In the 2013 Department of Education Report entitled, “Promoting Grit, Tenacity, and Perseverance”, the federal government recommends the use of data mining techniques that use physical responses from biofeedback devices to measure mood, blood volume, pulses and galvanic skin responses, to examine student frustration, and to gather “smile intensity” scores. Using posture analysis seats, a pressure mouse, wireless skin conductors, schools are encouraged to learn which students might lack “grit, tenacity, and perseverance,” in engaging with, or in believing what is being taught. Welcome to Common Core/Obama Core!
The Alabama State School Board just approved a new resolution which Superintendent of Education Tommy Bice says will protect students’ privacy. It will instead open up a Pandora’s Box, allowing even third parties to have students’ personal family information to use and sell for any reason!
In December 2011, President Obama changed without congressional approval, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. (FERPA) All Personally Identifiable Information and Records on students and their families taken at the local level may legally be accessed by government and non government agencies . The Longitudinal Data system is capable of tracking student information over multiple years in multiple schools. Federal funding is provided to aid the design and implementation of such systems through the State Longitudinal Data System Grant Program.
Added to the FERPA changes President Obama made is the definition: “Biometric record,” as used in the definition of Personally Identifiable Information. Automated recognition of our children can be obtained through one or more measureable biological or behavioral characteristics, including fingerprints, retina and iris patterns, voice prints, DNA sequence, facial characteristics and handwriting. Personally Identifiable Information includes but is not limited to: students’ and parents’ names, addresses, dates and places of birth, social security and students’ numbers, mothers’ maiden names and biometric records. Is this really for better education?
Alas, Alabama has signed on to Obama Ed, and no meaningless resolution is going to change that.
Barbara Moore