Speakout

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Something's wrong

In response to the "Common Core debate continues." There are many interesting "facts" about this article that should be checked into further. Most superintendents and DESE will fight like cats to try to prove that Common Core has nothing to do whatsoever with the federal government. I find it fascinating as to how transparent your article really was when it said "Hanlin has worked with Common Core standards over the past five years. She was brought in on a team of teachers through the U.S. Department of Education to pilot the standards." Additionally, the first draft of standards was not even available for draft review until March of 2010. That is what the public has been told anyway from DESE. Can you have someone clarify what she means by the fact she piloted Common Core before the standards were even written? She said "five years." Most districts did not even start to see the standards until the fall of 2010. I am very interested in learning more. I appreciate Ms. Hanlin's willingness to be truthful, but she is not aligning her message with that of the Missouri Department of Education. Please clarify. Thank you.

Bring out the Guard

This is in reference to the shootings going on in Charleston. People are afraid to sit out on their front porch, walk their dogs or even be outside. I would think they maybe could get the National Guard to come in and walk around or ride around and be seen. Something has got to be done. This is ridiculous. So please consider bringing the National Guard in for them to be seen on the west end of town because this is awful.