OK-SAFE, Inc. – One of the most serious issues facing “education” in the states today is the adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCS for short; or simply put, computer-based federal curriculum).
Please read the article below by Donna Garner of Texas, (follow the link to read Garner’s entire post), then make plans to attend the upcoming Understanding Common Core Public Forum on Saturday, August 10, 2013 in Tulsa, hosted by Tulsa9.12 Project and KFAQ. (See our prior post for details on this event).
“The Perfect Plan To Destroy America – Nationalize Education”
by Donna Garner
8.7.13
If a person wanted to destroy our American culture, keep this generation from communicating effectively with older generations, and make sure today’s children grow up detesting America instead of valuing our nation’s American exceptionalism, the best plan would be to implement the Common Core Standards (CCS) into every school in America.
OBAMA’S PLAN
That is exactly what Obama and his administration are trying to do, and 45 states (plus D. C.) originally committed to the CCS (before the standards had even been released publicly). However, because of a groundswell of negative responses from the grassroots, a large number of states are now rethinking their commitment to the CCS.
TEACHERS REQUIRED TO DO…
As directed by the CCS, teachers have to make sure that by the time students graduate in 2014, 70% percent of books studied must be nonfiction (i.e., informational text); and those nonfiction selections must be taught in a “close reading” process. That means students must not be given any background information or historical significance of a nonfiction piece before reading it. For instance, the Declaration of Independence must be presented devoid of what was occurring in the United States at the time this monumental document was written, leaving students with a shallow understanding of the courage and revolutionary spirit that moved the signers to voice their opposition to tyranny.
Just as importantly, how many English teachers could possibly cover the great classic pieces of fiction literature in only 30% of classroom time? None. For instance, it takes at least four to six weeks in English I to cover Great Expectations, which is one of the most outstanding, applicable, and character-building books for early-high school teens to read.
Garner continues….
ARE THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS GOOD STANDARDS?
Even more basic, do the Common Core Standards teach children to read well at all? No, the CCS do not.
In K-3, explicit and systematic instruction of decoding skills (phonics) is lacking; and goals for the independent mastery of these skills are not set nor expected. In fact, not one of the CCS objectives on phonics and word analysis skills requires students to apply their decoding skills by reading independently and accurately unfamiliar words in and out of context.
For the entire post “The Perfect Plan to Destroy America” post by Donna Garner, click here.
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