http://t.co/KnKSoi6EA8Common Core Political Survey for SIXTH GRADERS
There are so many bad things about the Common Core that often times the actual pieces of curriculum that are being used are overlooked.
Right now it is said that teachers and districts can control what they use in the classroom, as long as it aligns with the Common Core and the assessments the children will be taking. When reading the standards themselves, like many of us Common Core fighters have done, you begin to see that the standards lack content and it’s all designed to leave everything open to interpretation.
Take math for example; students need to collaborate on the answer and whether or not the answer is correct does not matter so long as they all came to a consensus on the answer they provide. This carries over into the English Language Arts and we’ve seen the kind of books that the Common Core calls “exemplar.”
Many of us fear that the end goal for the CCSS is to create millions of little blank slates–blank slates that can be easily indoctrinated. Or perhaps subtly indoctrinating them to big government ideology during their education career is their aim. Many people push back on us about that and say that nobody would ever want to do something like that to American children. Many of us are leery that these types of data mining and data points are aimed at children and parents to be used for nefarious purposes. Because let’s face it, there are bad people in the world and bad people often times seek to hurt others. With the blueprint they are collecting on your life, they could do some very serious, life altering damage. And again, we are met with push back on this idea also. The Pollyanna’s of the world can’t wrap their brain around our “conspiracy theory” ideas.
And then you get slapped in the face with this piece of homework that comes home with your 6th grader.
This politically charged schoolwork seems monumentally appropriate, doesn’t it? Here are the instructions the child is to follow.
According to Stand Up For The Truth! the instructions are followed by just a few of the examples of survey questions under the headings, Guns, Abortion, Crimes & Punishment, Environment, Health Care, Education, Free Speech & Religion, Gay Marriage, Defense, and Taxes.
Kids will then rate themselves on a scale as to where they stand on these issues. I didn’t realize that 12 year olds are versed on these issues, but this assignment assumes they are. Either that or it assumes the directions and beginning explanation of the assignment will muddy up their thinking enough to override any opinions they may hold because of their parents’ own ideology.
The child is then directed to tally up their answers and write a summary describing their position.
And then, as if getting information on a child’s political beliefs aren’t enough, they ask you to have your parents fill out the same form.
I wonder why some of us are afraid the schools will collect political affiliation data on parents?
Not only is this completely inappropriate for a child only 12 years old to be expected to fill out but it’s all personal political opinion and has no place in a school.
As for the parents political beliefs being included in the assignment, what do they intend to use this information for?
I completely understand a high school government class explaining the differences between political parties like Democrats and Republicans, but just as it is inappropriate for a teacher to stand and preach their particular brand of politics, it’s just as inappropriate, if not more, to ask for not only the child’s point of view but the parents also.
This is why we silly Anti Common Core folks worry about our school system. Once again, taking something that should be learned at home, in the confines of nuclear family, the government wants to take over the rearing of our children.
They will not teach them how to think, but what to think. Politically, spiritually, and socially. Social engineering at its finest.
The great aunt of this student has a head on her shoulders and as you can see, she took it upon herself to set the school district straight.
Here is the complete text of her letter back to the ridiculous teacher who assigned this homework:
I am appalled by the “Righty or Lefty” poll. First of all it is nobody’s business what mine or my 12-year-old son’s political views are. Secondly, my own son does not even know what half of these issues mean until after discussing them with him. His answers vary greatly during discussion. His views will always change as he grows and as new issues arise and he learns that these things have an effect on his life.
As I am reading these topics, I have noticed the entire thing is pro-Liberal and con-Conservative, being completely skewed towards “Lefty-nicey/meany conservatives” ideology, which I do not approve of. The entire thing is unbalanced and an unfair and inaccurate representation. My family is NEITHER and I do not appreciate you or the school trying to pawn this assignment off on students who are too young to have valuable opinions on these subjects!
I do not know what importance this has as being an assigned worksheet for a “major grade” (has he has informed me). I do not want to hear about it being for a government assignment! Learning about government is one thing – but it is none of your business to try and pry personal information out of a child on extremely private information. I am excusing my son from this assignment and expect this NOT to be counted against his grade.
Sincerely, _____.
She then goes on to conclude:
If this assignment doesn’t necessarily fit the Common Core agenda, it certainly fits the agenda of those collecting private information on students and parents for the Jeffco School District nearby here in CO by a grant from the Gates Foundation. This assignment is clearly an attempt to collect private data from my niece and her family through her 12 year old son.
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