CORE: Educator says plan flawed

My name is Larry Angel and I am a resident of Coeur d’Alene. I am a longtime educator as a full time teacher and a substitute teacher in several states. I have several questions I hope you in the Department of Education will answer:

I. Why do you not list the numbers and address for the Idaho Department of Education on all your web sites? I had to look on three web sites in order to find out where to send this letter.

II. The Constitution of the US makes and prevents the federal government from making rules concerning local schools. So why has the State of Idaho adopted the Common Core Standards? By you and your office pushing for the Common Core Standards you have allowed this to happens.

III. We have a good school system in Coeur d’Alene. So why are you forcing the Coeur d’Alene School District to:

A. Change a good thing?

B. Allowing two private groups to set the CCSS in Idaho. Since these standards were not actually developed by local or state governments, there appears to be no way to change them.

C. Why have you pushed the state of Idaho to adopt Common Core Standards set by two groups (that realize they can make BIG money on) to set the standards that have no idea what the needs of students and teachers in Idaho are?

D. Why are you allowing this to happen?

1. Top down decision making instead of bottom up decision making?

2. Is top down decision not socialism?

3. Forcing the Teacher Evaluations to potentially allow for the firing of quality teachers simply because a parent complains?

4. Quality teachers are leaving and are going to leave the field of education due to the pressures put on them by Common Core.

Due to the above listed problems plus many more, the State of Idaho must take a very bold step and find a way to opt out of Common Core for the benefit of all the people of the great state of Idaho. Most Idahoans are independent thinkers. Folks, let’s make sure that we do all we can to eliminate Common Core in Idaho. It is never hopeless so let’s get together and work this dangerous situation with Common Core.

I must admit, however, that there are some aspects of Common Core that I believe are beneficial. Such as:

A. Forcing teachers to learn real life math. Just because a student can work all the problems does not mean he or she knows how to apply them to real life situations.

B. Part A can be used even with elementary students if it is done in a simplified way and after the student learns math skills.

Why doesn’t the STATE OF IDAHO do the following:

A. Stop Common Core and allow the millions of dollars that will be necessary to bring Common Core into to being to be spent:

1. to create more good paying jobs

2. to create resources that encourage parents to become knowledgeable about the local school districts and what their students learn or do not learn in their schools

3. to create foster parents or grandparent, like teacher, have their identity checked to help teachers who are often overworked. These people may or may not actually be the student’s parents or grandparents.

B. Allow teachers, administrators, parents, and others to develop assessment standards and curriculum that is designed to meet the needs of local school districts and students in Idaho. These groups could also set up standards that are reasonable for teacher evaluations.

LARRY ANGEL

Coeur d’Alene