COMMON CORE FEUD - DR. THOMPSON AND SEN. JOHN LEHMAN

Feud between psychologist and Wisconsin lawmaker highlights growing tension surrounding Common Core

http://eagnews.org/feud-between-anti-common-core-psychologist-and-wisconsin-lawmaker-highlights-growing-tension-surrounding-standards/
EAG News.org – Ben Velderman – 11/4/2013

MADISON, Wis. – America’s ongoing fight over Common Core is being revealed as a David and Goliath-like struggle between concerned citizens who oppose the new, one-size-fits-all learning standards and the moneyed interests that stand to profit from a nationalized education system.

This was all made clear during a recent blowup between Dr. Gary Thompson, a Utah psychologist who opposes Common Core, and Wisconsin state Sen. John Lehman.

Thompson testified last month before a bipartisan group of Wisconsin lawmakers that Common Core testing could have disastrous ramifications for many children, including extremely gifted students and those with learning disabilities. (His testimony can be viewed here.)

Most would have found Thompson’s testimony thought-provoking, but two politicians – state Sen. John Lehman and state Rep. Sondy Pope – weren’t interested in hearing his expertise on Common Core testing.

The two, pro-Common Core Democratic legislators, instead, decided to focus on who paid Thompson’s travel expenses from Utah to Wisconsin. The duo issued a press release the day after Thompson’s testimony charging that the doctor’s appearance “was apparently funded by a group associated with the extremist fringe John Birch Society.”

This weekend, Thompson responded to the hit-and-run press release by calling for Lehman’s resignation from office.  Here’s an excerpt from Thompson’s no-holds-barred letter:

To The Honorable Senator John Lehman:

I am in receipt of your press release dated October 24, 2013 issued on official Wisconsin State Government letterhead. Let me get straight to the point: On behalf of every African American, Latino, Autistic, gifted, depressed, anxious and learning-disabled child in the state of Wisconsin, I demand your immediate resignation from public office.

 

Click the link above to read Dr. Thompson's entire post.

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