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A reply regarding the Symposium On Common Core on Jan. 13
This is a reply to my old friend Rich Dunn and to his posting, "All we got out of the Common Core 'symposium' was a one-sided presentation."
Wow, what a great spin. Once again we see a typically objective piece of reporting from a typically objective source. We can agree on one thing; it was a fiasco -- for the NDE.
Fortunately, there are others who have reported on this event, and their reports are on-line.
http://missourieducationwatchdog.com/nevada-more-misinformation-mayhem-f...
Fortunately, the video of the event is on-line and available for all to see, or even to download.
http://nvleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=6c8cf2b4-9c10-11e4-...
You can use your own judgement about what happened and why: which side showed up with facts and experts, and which side brought anything and anybody but that; which side provided information relevant to the declared purpose of this symposium, and which side declared flatly, lump it, we are doing this no matter what you say.
Fortunately, some legislators were present in person at the symposium and they DID take notice.
Yes, there should be forums on what Common Core is doing to teachers and students in the classroom. But the tragic fact, according to anecdotal evidence that keeps pouring in from all over and was voiced even in this symposium (see the tape), is that teachers are afraid to speak out out of fear for their jobs and careers, and parents are afraid to speak out out of fear of reprisals against their children.
This is not an atmosphere appropriate to a free country which we believe America to be, where supposedly the First Amendment protects their right of free expression against reprisals by government. Last I looked, the NDE was an agency of government, so if they are truly interested in unfettered, informative dialog with teachers and parents, they should be at the forefront of protecting the right of teachers to voice opinions contrary to official orthodoxy. But temper tantrums by officials such as those at this symposium sent quite a different message.