Last week a few parents attended a candidates forum in Canterbury, NH. We’d like to take this time to report on what some of the candidates in District 7 said about their opinions on Common Core.
Currently Senator Hosmer serves District 7 with Kathy Rago challenging him for that seat.
When people arrived to listen to the candidates, there were two papers available for parents to pick up. Each paper addressed the flaws with the Common Core Math and English/Language Arts Standards.
During the forum, both candidates were asked their position on Common Core. Senator Hosmer indicated he had “concerns” but then proceeded to explain that local businesses told him that they needed Common Core.
HUH? Did you hear that? He talked to local businesses and THEY said WE need Common Core.
Now keep in mind that Senator Hosmer insulates his kids from what he seeks to inflict upon the public school students and teachers. How? His kids attend parochial school. Yes, that’s right, he’s willing to subject NH students to lousy academic standards but not his own children. He’s also willing to subject NH teachers to evaluations that is harming the teaching profession but the teachers at his children’s school will not be impacted.
Senator Hosmer didn’t talk to parents of the children attending public schools. He didn’t talk to the teachers who are impacted by tying their evaluation to the flawed Common Core tests. (Smarter Balanced Assessment)
Since when do area businesses become his advisors when it comes to education policy? Shouldn’t that come from parents, school board members and local school employees?
Dr. Stotsky has acknowledged that most people are NOT qualified to analyze academic standards. How can local businesses weigh in on the quality of the Common Core Standards? Are they Mathematicians? Are they High School Math teachers? NO
Yet here we are watching a State Senator acknowledging he’s looking to sources who are NOT qualified to make these judgements.
For the record, Kathy Rago did make a definitive statement that she opposed Common Core. We thank her for understanding the serious flaws in the CCSS and what they are doing to damage our public schools. We thank her for standing up for New Hampshire teachers who will be evaluated on flawed standards, curriculum and tests.
After the forum, one parent talked to three Hosmer supporters. (They were all wearing the Hosmer stickers) She asked them what they thought about the teachers who were coming out against Common Core. All of the Hosmer supporters were quick to BLAME the teachers for not making the necessary adjustments to the CCSS if they were a problem.
Well it’s obvious that Sen. Hosmer and his supporters have NO idea how teachers have been silenced in this debate. They have NO idea that teachers are bullied and are concerned for their jobs if they speak up. Instead they now blame the teachers for the failures and flaws in the Common Core Standards.
Like many other elitists who push Common Core on public schools but refuse to subject their children to the dumbed down standards, we wanted to highlight where the problems begin. They begin with those who refuse to live under the policies they want to inflict on the rest of us.