Common Core in Alabama

I live in the wonderful state of Alabama. And on this Fourth of July, I'd like to say thank you to God for my beautiful state and country. However, I honestly believe that some of our freedoms are being snatched away, right out from under our noses. I've heard a lot of chatter from my homeschool friends about Common Core and its evilness. However, I'm not even sure if most of my public school friends know about it. Why would homeschoolers be more fired up about Common Core than families with children who will be more directly affected in the near (like NOW) future? Hmmm... I have some theories, but that's not really the issue.

The issue is this: EVERYONE will be (or already is) affected by Common Core.

Period.

It will take every concerned American to pull together to stop this demonic power grab. Oh, yes, I went there. I do feel that this whole program is ungodly; I'm sure that God, the Creator of free will, isn't pleased with this socialist agenda that's contaminating education and turning our precious children into human capital (insert sassy finger snap).

Let's take my home state. In November of 2010, Alabama adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) into their Alabama College-and-Career-Ready Standards (CCRS), which is part of Alabama's Plan 2020, the overall educational plan for our state (it can be a little confusing, I know). The adoption went largely unnoticed until recently, due to the fact that full implementation of the Math and English Language Arts standards is this coming 2013-2014 school year. So, now everyone is talking about it, and for good reason.

Closing the achievement gaps is one of the objectives of Plan 2020. The architects behind this plan believe that there should be subgroups based on skin color, with each subgroup having different achievement goals.

From Tuscaloosa News:

Beginning this fall, Alabama public schools will be under a new state-created academic accountability system that sets different goals for students in math and reading based on their race, economic status, ability to speak English and disabilities.

The state's new Plan 2020 will replace No Child Left Behind, the much-maligned, Bush-era accountability program. Plan 2020 emphasizes getting students college- or career-ready (emphasis mine, this is the link to Common Core) and closing the achievement gap that exists between impoverished minority students and students who are better off socioeconomically.

It sets a different standard for students in each of several subgroups — American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, black, English language learners, Hispanic, multirace, poverty, special education and white.

Here is the breakdown of the subgroup achievement goals in Alabama:

The percentages needed for third-graders to pass math in their subgroups for 2013 are:

- 93.6 percent of Asian/Pacific Islander students.

- 91.5 percent of white students.

- 90.3 percent of American Indian students.

- 89.4 percent of multiracial students.

- 85.5 percent of Hispanic students.

- 82.6 percent of students in poverty.

- 79.6 percent of English language-learner students.

- 79 percent of black students.

- 61.7 percent of special needs students.

Doesn't this soft racism and discrimination make you sick?! Please read the entire article if you have a minute.

In somewhat unrelated (but very interesting) news, Alabama also has a tax-funded program to feed children and their parents breakfast, lunch, AND DINNER at certain schools this summer (I kid you not. Click here to read more). Cradle to the grave, people. We're creating a culture dependent upon the government, and Common Core fits right in. Our children are being dumbed down to remain dependent. It may sound harsh, but those are my true feelings on all of this. And even though my children will be home educated and not directly affected by Common Core (yet!), I hate to see what's in store in for our great country if generations of children are subjected to this socialist agenda. 

If you haven't seen the free documentary Agenda: Grinding America Down, please click here to watch it. It is eye-opening!

To read all my other posts about Common Core, please click here.

I hope all this didn't bum you out; God is still in control and on His throne. Reminding myself of that always gives me hope. I just sincerely pray that God will open people's eyes and inspire us to take action where we can before it's too late.

On this special day, I'm also reminded of the popular phrase:

Land of the free,

Because of the brave.

God bless you, friends.

A Movie You Should See. . . And Common Core

Friends, I am really torn up about this Common Core business.

I've been doing lots of research to learn more about it, and I'm finding out that there are many sinister layers to this scheme. 

What if I told you that Bill Gates, who's funding Common Core, is giving money to a company to research biometric bracelets and functional MRIs for school children? I kid you not.

Supporters of Common Core repeatedly say that it's not a 'curriculum.' They argue that Common Core is simply a rigorous set of 'standards' to improve our education system and get American kids ready to compete in a global economy.

Whatever!

I encourage you to go straight to the source and listen to Bill Gates himself tell you about Common Core. Watch the video of Glenn Beck's April 11, 2013, radio broadcast. The first six minutes deal with why in the world Exxon is running commercials supporting Common Core. At about 6:15, Bill Gates starts in. 

So, you have it straight from the great and powerful Oz: These 'standards' are just the beginning.

Curriculum is coming.

And don't forget about the 400 data points that the government will collect on its students. Click here to read about the data mining that goes along with Common Core, which will be kept in a database that is not secure.

Click here to read another great post exposing Common Core from Stand Up America.

I could go on and on. But why do I care, right? I mean, I'm homeschooling my kids; they won't be in 'the system.' What's the big deal? 

The big deal is this: Do you think the government is going to ignore the exploding homeschool movement? Do you think the SAT and ACT won't be rewritten to align with Common Core? (Did you know that David Coleman, chief architect of Common Core, is now president of the College Board? Watch a video here of Coleman saying how he 'convinced' governors to jump on board this evil mess.)

The bottom line is that changes are coming. Things will not be how they've always been. And I'm just not smart enough to anticipate what's coming next for homeschooling or education in general. But I know it's not going to be pretty.

So, in comes the title of this post. This movie was recommended to me at our CC Parent Practicum by the wife of a government official. She knows her stuff, so I made the time to watch it with the hubs.

Click here to watch the documentary Agenda: Grinding America Down

Here's its webpage.

I highly, highly (okay, BEG) you to watch this. Educate yourself. Do your own homework and pray for our country.

Click here and here for my other posts on Common Core.

If you live in Alabama, please read this post about Common Core in our state.

Common Core - Video Proof of Indoctrination

I am just appalled at the social justice indoctrination being fed to our kids! I saw this video and just had to share it here. You really do have to see all these videos for yourself to believe what's happening in our public schools now.

Shameful.

Here's another one about the informational texts. I've heard quite a bit about how informational texts will make up anywhere from 50-70% of assigned reading in high school, but I didn't really understand what an 'informational text' was until now. Check it out below:

The next video compares a Common Core-aligned math book approved in Utah and Vermont to Saxon's Algebra 2 book. Absolutely ridiculous. And if you're thinking, Oh, that's in Utah and Vermont. That would never happen in Alabama or Georgia or wherever, time will tell. But, sadly, it looks like our nation's kids may not be able to tell the time or much else of math:

It feels like a punch in the stomach, doesn't it?

I'll keep posting what I find about Common Core, and please comment or email if you find things, too.

Click here to read my post about Common Core in Alabama.

Don't know much about Common Core? Click here to learn more.

People need to know!

Common Core - Get Educated!

Have you heard of Common Core yet?

If not, you need to.

Common Core is our government's attempt to centralize education and indoctrinate our nation's kids, and it's actually in violation of three laws (surprise, surprise). Even though most of you reading this are or will be educating your children at home, we all need to know about Common Core; it's already affecting homeschool curriculum.

Please watch this very informative short video from Stop Common Core to learn more about this insanity:

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Click here to see my post with video proof of this indoctrination. You have to see it to believe it!

Websites With More Information

Cheeky Bums Blog - This post explains Common Core very thoroughly.

Cheeky Bums Blog - This post tells how Common Core will affect homeschoolers (excellent read!).

The Educational Freedom Coalition - Click here to see which curriculum companies have aligned themselves with Common Core.

Stop Common Core

Truth in American Education - They have a recent post with links about the 400 data points that the government is collecting on each child in public school. Insane!

Betrayed - Why Public Education is Failing - Fantastic article about math standards! Really, go read it!

The Washington Times has a great post about Common Core and the GED (as well as sample writing prompt from the test implying that the 9/11 hijackers were poor Afghans who were just a product of their unfortunate environment. I'm totally serious.)

Let's not keep our heads in the sand about this, friends!