Tag Archives: NHBOE

Who is trying to destroy public education in NH? We name names

We decided to stay out of the politics when Governor Sununu appointed a new Commissioner of Education. The former Commissioner was a huge disappointment to all of us because of her allegiance to the dumbed down Common Core Standards. We never know if a new Commissioner is truly committed to quality academic standards or not. We’ve seen enough to know that there is always a possibility that we will see a re-brand of the Common Core and that only makes it worse.

Governor Sununu ran his campaign promising to scrap Common Core. This is encouraging since Governor Hassan was committed to Common Core in spite of the outcries from parents.

We would love to see Gov. Sununu follow through on this important task but the proof will come when that task is finally accomplished.

Governor Sununu appointed Frank Edelblut as Commissioner of Education. We remained neutral in spite of the outcry from partisans who decried that he was unqualified. Of course he was qualified but it remains to be seen if he will have the courage to “scrap” Common Core and put forth academic standards that are truly world class.

Commissioner Edelblut has taken a great deal of heat just for breathing. It seems as if the political forces are not going to let him move forward with any proposed changes. Whether it be the Common Core Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards or reorganizing the Department, it looks like there will be partisan opposition along the way. That’s truly unfortunate since education should always focus on children.

What we are seeing is political partisans lining up to shoot down the new Commissioner before he has a chance to do anything. That’s not good for kids, that’s partisan politics at its worst.

Stop Common Core NH is made up of parents and teachers across the state of New Hampshire. We are diverse in our political backgrounds, but our focus is always on improving public education. The Common Core Standards are not the best we can do for our kids in public schools and neither are the Next Generation Science Standards. These are dumbed down national standards and we can do better.

Everyone says, these are the minimum standards. Well we are tired of public school children getting the minimum. Why aren’t we shooting for the best?

There is NO excuse for this political game being played at the expense of your children.

Who has been fully engaged in making sure we continue with the status quo in New Hampshire? We are going to name names.

1) Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky. District 2
Volinsky has been opposed to Commissioner Edelblut since he was nominated and now he is attacking him for wanting to improve the science standards for your kids.
Volinsky represents: Acworth, Alstead, Barnstead, Belmont, Boscawen, Bradford, Canterbury, Charlestown, Chesterfield, Dublin, Durham, Farmington, Gilmanton, Gilsum, Goshen, Hancock, Harrisville, Henniker, Hinsdale, Hopkinton, Langdon, Lempster, Madbury, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, Newbury, Northfield, Rollinsford, Roxbury, Salisbury, Stoddard, Strafford, Sullivan, Surry, Sutton, Unity, Walpole, Warner, Washington, Webster, Westmoreland, and Winchester, and the cities of Concord, Dover, Franklin, Keene, Rochester, and Somersworth.

2) Chairman Tom Raffio New Hampshire State Board of Education District 4

3) Bill Duncan State Board of Education District 3

4) Cindy Chagnon State Board of Education At Large

5) Helen Honorow State Board of Education District 5

6) Gary Groleau State Board of Education At Large
**All of these State Board Members argued against the Commissioner reviewing the Next Generation Science Standards in an effort to improve them.

If you go here: https://www.education.nh.gov/state_board/ Click on meetings & minutes, then click on the link to the videos.
Click on: NH SB Video and scroll down to 2017 then April 6, 2017
Go to 1:50:00 and watch your State Board Members argue against improving science standards for your children.

We have a diverse group of parents and teachers working together to support quality standards in this state. We have a few partisans working against us so we need parents to recognize what is going on.

Make sure you are taking time to let these people know that you do not appreciate their partisan games they are playing with your kids and your public schools. They have become obstructionists to quality public education in this state and your kids will suffer the consequences if you do not speak up.

Send a message by attending a State Board of Education Meeting and tell them you want the Commissioner to improve the academic standards in this state. Tell them to STOP obstructing his efforts. If you cannot attend a meeting, send an e-mail and ask other parents to do the same.
Andru.Volinsky@nh.gov
TomRaffio@nedelta.com
waduncansboe@gmail.com
kcassady@allstaffcorp.com
ggroleau@nhbb.com
chags@comcast.net
hhonorow@barrylawoffice.com
annlanenhsboe@gmail.com
Frank.Edelblut@doe.nh.gov

It’s time to put our children above partisan political games!!!

WARNING PARENTS: STOP the POLITICALLY MOTIVATED SCIENCE STANDARDS in New Hampshire

WARNING TO PARENTS

IF you think it’s bad now, LOOK OUT. We’ve received word that the NH Board of Ed (appointed Board of political cronies… NOT elected by the people) either adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (in secret) or are on their way to formalizing the national SCIENCE STANDARDS in New Hampshire.

If you think the Math and English Common Core standards were bad, the Science standards are WORSE.

IF you want a quality education for your children, you have GOT to speak up.

Here are some articles to read on The Next Generation Science Standards:

1) http://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/chemtchr-science-teachers-view-backward-engineered-common-core-science-standards

2) http://www.edexcellencemedia.net/publications/2013/20130204-Science-Standards-Draft-II/Science-Standards-Draft-II.pdf

3) http://www.eagleforum.org/publications/educate/july13/next-generation-science-standards-common-core-incognito.html

4) http://etcjournal.com/2013/01/22/next-generation-science-standards-fall-flat/

TAKE ACTION

Write the New Hampshire Board of Education and tell them NO on Next Generation Standards!
We do NOT want another set of Common Core Science Standards.
WE expect New Hampshire to use the BEST academic standards.

Tell them they NEED to have PUBLIC HEARINGS and to STOP denying the public to weigh in on these standards.

We do NOT want POLITICALLY MOTIVATED SCIENCE STANDARDS in New Hampshire

NH Board of Education

TomRaffio@nedelta.com
hhonorow@barrylawoffice.com
gobuild@together.net
chags@comcast.net
rousemma@gmail.com
waduncan@gmail.com
ggroleau@nhbb.com

Send a copy to Governor Hassan:
http://business.nh.gov/NHGovernor/comments.asp

And a copy to the House Education Committee:
HouseEducationCommittee@leg.state.nh.us

And a copy to the Senate Education Committee:
john.reagan111@gmail.com
david.watters@leg.state.nh.us
nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us
Kevin.Avard@leg.state.nh.us
molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us

CALL TO ACTION on NH Senate Bills SB81 & SB82

To NH Parents, Taxpayers & School board members:
SB81 and SB82 restore local control and reign in the over-reach we are seeing from the Commissioner and the NH Board of Education members.  (note: all are POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS and are NOT elected)

It’s important for school board members to CONTACT the NH SBA and make sure they are at the hearings next week to offer testimony supporting both bills.  Remember WE pay the salaries of the NH School Boards Administration through our taxes that go into the School Budget and is paid through dues.  (Check your school budget for a line item of Dues paid to the New Hampshire School Boards Association)

SB81 essentially allows the NH BOE to make rules AFTER the people have spoken through their legislators. ie…instead of the BOE taking what the NH DOE hands them from the US DOE and implements RULES, instead they will have to listen to the PEOPLE.
That’s a simple one if you go and look at Ed.306 (over 90 pages of RULES) that came from the NH Board of Ed last year. Within that 90 pages plus you can clearly see the Obama Ed agenda now put into rules schools must follow.

It’s important that EVERYONE again, supports this legislation and request the NHSBA to also support it.

SB82 is similar. It reigns in the APPOINTED Commissioner of Ed. She is NOT ELECTED and her power is limited in Statute. She does NOT speak for the people and should not be acting as if she guides the Superintendents. WE hire them through our ELECTED local board members and WE PAY THEIR SALARIES.

Private meetings with Superintendents where NO notes are taken and nothing is public violates the public trust and is an over-reach.

It’s important that EVERYONE contact the Senate Ed Members and request that the NHSBA do the same.

Contact the Senate Education Committee :  john.reagan111@gmail.comnancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.usmolly.kelly@leg.state.nh.usdavid.watters@leg.state.nh.us, Kevin.Avard@.leg.state.nh.us

WARNING NH: Governor Hassan is about to dumb down Science Education

Dumbing down Math and English wasn’t enough for Governor Hassan and the NH Board of Education.  They are now on the verge of dumbing down the science education in our public schools too.

Governor Hassan put together a Committee to advise her on STEM education.  This committee was set up to simply hand her directions to adopt the NATIONAL Next Generation (Think Common Core for Science) Science Standards.

Not only is she FOLLOWING the Obama Administration that is forcing dumbed down Common Core Standards on our children and schools, she is going to push through (and we expect the NH BOE to rubber stamp this one) the Next Generation Science Standards.

IT is CRITICAL that you read through the following information.  Make sure you educate yourself again on WHY this is NOT good for our children and OUR schools.

Then we urge you to contact Governor Hassan and the members of the Board of Education and tell them to STOP pushing dumbed down standards on our kids.

IT’s time for Governor Hassan to DO HER JOB and develop QUALITY state standards that put our children and our schools FIRST.
Email Governor Hassan: http://www4.egov.nh.gov/nhgovernor/comments.asp
Email NH Board of Education: http://education.nh.gov/state_board/membership.htm
Send a copy to the Members of the House: HReps@leg.state.nh.us
Send a copy to your State Senator: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/members/senate_roster.aspx

Read through these: