Friday, August 29, 2014

Feds play hardball on Common Core

Oklahoma decided to repeal the Common Core program only to find out such action will come with a price tag.  The Wall Street Journal reported:


Oklahoma won't receive a one-year extension of its waiver from aspects of the No Child Left Behind Act after the state repealed the Common Core State Standards earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Education said Thursday.

The federal government cited Oklahoma's failure to demonstrate that the state's current standards meet the qualifications for "college and career-ready" standards, a requirement of the federal waivers.

Oklahoma is the second state to lose its waiver extension after Washington, which failed to meet federal requirements on teacher evaluations.

The state must begin obeying the rules under No Child Left Behind immediately, though the Education Department is granting an extended timeline for certain specifications, such as school choice and private tutoring.

While new standards are being developed in Oklahoma to replace Common Core, the state reverted back to previous standards.

Oklahoma officials said the federal education department rejected its request for an extension of its current standards to meet the "college and career ready" certification process. The move effectively will reduce the state's flexibility in how it spends roughly $30 million in federal education funding....

Dorie Nolt, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Education, said: "State leaders still have the opportunity to demonstrate that their standards are rigorous or design new standards to ensure their students are ready for college, career and life—just like Indiana and several other states have done." .....Rest of article.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

To hell with federal funding - of every stripe. You're either a sovereign state or a slave to the state - take your pick!

Anonymous said...

You ready for a tax hike? You are certainly in the wrong state with that attitude, buddy.

Anonymous said...

Hilariously funny considering how often and strenuously the Common Core cadres have stressed that Common Core is not a federal mandate nor an attempt by the Federales to impose educational requirements on the states.

Anonymous said...

Common Core supporters Tate Reeves and Philip Gunn ask everyone to please look the other way.

Anonymous said...

@10:40 & 10:42

Did you read the article? Or just skim the headline and bloviate. Other states, like Indiana, have been approved without common core.

This has to do with college standards, not common core. You don't like Common Core? Fine. Implement your own flavor (hint: it costs millions to develop a curriculum that is rigorous and prepares kids for college)

Anonymous said...

Common Core is a sham curriculum that was sold on the promise of more federal money. And yes, despite what its supporters say, it is a federally mandated curriculum. Public school teachers teach to the test. In this case, the test is whatever the two federally sanctioned testing companies say it is. The government sets the requirements on what gets tested, the teachers teach to whatever will be on the tests that are given.

The requirements aren't more rigorous, either. The students may have a "deeper" (see that beautiful common core buzzword?) knowledge base, but what the government won't tell you is the breadth of knowledge is smaller.

Don't believe me? Go online and give your child a practice test from Singapore Math. That's the math taught in most public schools. But be sure to compare how your child does between the two types of Singapore Math tests available: Common Core and Standards. Standards refers to the old California math standards that were in place before CC hit the market. Bet your child does better on CC than Standards and the reason is that the latter covers more material than the former. How is that an improvement in public education? They are teaching our children less by focusing on the basics more. Those that suffer the most will be your above average - star students. Let the brain drain begin.

Jim Rice said...

Who was the president who touted and passed "No Child?" Must have been a flaming liberal.

Bill Dees said...

11:24, you've got that bass ackwards, and CC isn't a curriculum, it's a set of standards. And 9:50 -I'll bet you're the same 19th Century time traveler who said not too very long ago that the University of Mississippi was a "Confederate university, built by Confederates", when, in truth, the only time it's ever been closed since its founding was when the Confederacy existed. Again, that's backwards. Antebellum types like you need to at least move on the 20th Century (I realize that moving to the 21st Century is beyond hope.)

Anonymous said...

Alright Dees, you tell me how it isn't a national curriculum. In practice, it is. The feds set standards for a test and the teachers teach to the test because (wait for it) their jobs depend upon the kids making good scores on said tests.

I think we're arguing on the proper pronunciation of potato because as far as CC is concerned, standards = curriculum (and a bare bones one at that).

Please do not try to argue that teachers do not teach to the test. That's ass backwards.

Anonymous said...

I wish I could have all the "states rights" people get in an alternate universe machine and see just how grand it would be to live in the United State of MS. There is a reason why we became a country of 50 states instead of a country of one state! Before you know it we would have counties wanting to secede from each other in the grand old United State of MS.Give it a rest, not everything the federal gov. does is an evil conspiracy.

Anonymous said...

I hate tell you but teachers have been teaching to the test for at least 20 years - long before CC was even dreamed of. My wife's been a teacher for 25 years.

Anonymous said...

"...reverted back..."?

And this from the Wall Street Journal?

Anonymous said...

Y'all are missing the point. The federal government has never mandated what should be included on tests that states administer; that has since changed with CC. Furthermore, the "standards" are lower than previous iterations. Instead of third graders knowing addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, converting weights and measurements, time and money, they are only tested on those first four items listed. Granted, they'll be required to work the same problem 5 different ways to get full credit for an answer, but which standard do you think is better?

CC is a baseline curriculum.

Anonymous said...

4:44 - dead on. Teaching to the test has been the fact since time immemorial. Doesn't matter if it is CC or whatever the standard was prior to today

Crazies today - screaming and hollering about CC because they want to tie it to Obama. Personally, I cant stand Obama. I dont like anything about him.

But I can think for myself. I dont automatically condemn CC because someone on FB told me CC was bad because Obama was bad.

But - I'm smarter than all those other crazy folks.

And - they won't believe it, no matter what is said or written.

So - just as long as we can keep those crazy folks out of public policy, we could be good.

But they keep on sneaking in. How in the world can we keep them out of intelligant public policy discussions

Anonymous said...

I see lots of name calling from the pro CC crowd, but little else. Maybe that's all you've got, in which case let's take this fight to the nearest elementary school playground.

Anonymous said...

Common Core zealots will tell you that the CC standards stress depth, yet I am told on a regular basis to "pick up the pace" because we have "so much to cover in such a short period of time". There are chapters that I am simply skating over to keep up with the pace. It is simply a joke.

Anonymous said...

So 9:52 am what is your solution to our education problems?

I expect that CC is flawed just as No Child Left Behind was flawed.

But, both were made to be political straw men.

Why do YOU think the education system in MS is so poor compared to other states?

I am so tired of the bitching and complaining especially when there are so many successful models out there but you can't get the know nothings to go along with anything that isn't their party's idea!

And, every damn person that went to school at one time or another thinks they are experts in education and child development.

So, please , tell me why you can't find ways to cover the material when others can?

Anonymous said...

At 6:36, the "education system" in Mississippi is poor because said "system" includes THE PARENTS. And WAY too many PARENTS could not care less about their kid's education. Teachers are not miracle workers. All they can do is TRY to teach SOME of the kids something. If the kid doesn't care and the parent(s) don't care, there is nothing the teacher can do to change the outcome. It won't matter whether the standards used are Common Core or not.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.