The word education from its Latin origin means “to lead forth.” The new standards imposed on our schools, Idaho Core Standards, have not shown to be rigorous or engaging. States which have participated in sample testing through Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, SBAC have seen a minimum 30-percent drop in test scores, creating “D” students from “A” students. Idaho Core Standards are Common Core State Standards … it appears the name was changed to deflect criticism. Don’t be fooled.

Standards drive the curriculum. So far this experiment shows the curriculum does not teach principles of living and depth of knowledge in subject matter. References in the CCSS documents note the “culturally sanctioned body of knowledge is designed to help students form their own sense of reality.” Is that not what the video game designers do? I fear the abdication of our school system to the technology moguls, such as Gates Foundation will produce exactly the “vidiots”(my word) we deserve if society allows this program to continue.

We citizens have an opportunity to thwart the net of Idaho Core Standards from capturing students. Contact your legislator to discuss your concern for the future of our students. Legislators names and email addresses can be found at www.legislature.idaho.gov/. Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s education task force was established to “move education forward in Idaho for our students and educators.”

Students should be “lead forth” and not “pushed forth.” This is our responsibility to them as citizens, parents and taxpayers.

CAROLYN K. MINNICK

Sagle