Children for sale: A mother speaks out against common core
Education Reporter – Alyson Williams
– 1/51/2013
What about the part where I
said I felt my children had been sold? I learned that the U.S. market for
education is one of the most lucrative — bigger than energy or technology by
one account — especially in light of these new national standards that not only
create economy of scale for education vendors, but require schools to purchase
all new materials, tests and related technology. Almost everything the schools
had was suddenly outdated.
When I discovered that the vendors with the biggest
market share and in the position to profit the most from this new regulation
had actually helped write or finance the standards, the mama bear inside me
ROARED!
Could it be that the new
standards had more to do with profit
than what was best for students? Good thing for their shareholders they were
able to avoid a messy process involving parents or their legislative
representatives.
When I was told that the end
would justify the means, that it was for the common good of our children and
our society, and to sit back and trust
that they had my children’s best interests at heart — they lost my trust.
As I kept note of the vast sums of money exchanging hands in
connection with these standards with none of it going to address the critical
needs of my local school — I felt
cheated.
As I listened to the
Governor and education policy makers on a state and national level speak about
my children and their education in terms of tracking, alignment, workforce, and human capital — I was offended.
When I was told that this is
a done deal, and there was nothing as a
parent or citizen that I could do about it — I was motivated.
If you agree, I encourage
you to share this information. Post it, pin it, email it, tweet it.
No more decisions behind
closed doors! Let’s get everyone talking about Common Core.
Alyson Williams is the
mother of four children. Two attend public school.
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