Bradley County School Board says “NO” to Common Core
2/17/14
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The Bradley County Board of Education in Cleveland Tennessee, has passed a resolution that says no to Common Core, with all 7 board members voting unanimously in favor.
The measure was drafted by board member Charlie Rose, a long time board member with the ability to influence decision making in our county on school issues. Select members of the board to include Chris Turner, contributed time and facts to the compilation of this resolution.
The resolution addresses and cites many concerns about Common Core implementation in Bradley County to include cost, lack of teacher, student and parent involvement, inadequate testing components, teacher licensure and data collection of students.
Common Core has been labeled the nationalization of our schools by many critics with unique ties to socialism and a system of John Dewey and pedagogical theory.
Many have said it is another step toward Socialism by indoctrination of our children.
The realization of a top down globalization of our schools and how the federal government plans to control every aspect of your child’s education is a big motivator for stopping Common Core in it’s tracks and our school board has taken a definite step in the right direction by signing this resolution.
Common Core is heavily centered on teaching to a test without real learning of the basic tenets of education, like the three R’s. Teachers need to have the ability to teach without constant interruptions from the federal government.
This resolution has pushed the debate beyond talk, sent a strong message to elected and appointed leaders that teachers, parents and now board members do not want Common Core in our County.
Common Cores empty promises and unproven results with Socialist overtones has forced the Bradley County Board to act.
Local control of our schools must be established and this resolution sends that message.
Our school system as it exists in Bradley County already has higher grade standards and results than Common Core promises to achieve. Why change to a system that will at best dumb our children down to the national standard?
It doesn’t make sense and our local school board has pointed out this truth. Is “improving” our system worth a loss to our children?
The Bradley County School Board has responded positively to
parent and teacher concerns despite the continued efforts of Johnny McDaniel and Martin Ringstaff of their undying support of Common Core!
The likes of Bill Haslam, Kevin Huffman, Michelle Rhee and our elected reps have made good money off this venture and stand to gain even more if Common Core is allowed to advance.
Some detractors claim this resolution has no teeth and carries no real weight. I also heard this with the Agenda 21 resolution coming out of our TN State house early last session. Don’t dismiss this as “just a resolution.”
Bold statements such as this carry alot of clout in this town. Many pushing for radical education change wouldn’t dare raise their heads and oppose a board that says no, political suicide comes to mind.
With RTTT/Common Core money already spent, our reality is now we have a burdensome, costly program lingering in our midst that smells of nationalization of our public schools with still no means to pay for it.
The Common Core debate has now been shifted from a conversation of heresay and rumors to one of confirmation with no doubt about the boards intent.
I emailed my first District school board member Chris Turner and asked for a statement from him regarding this resolution and how it was formed,
“The board was asked by the county commission to quantify the impact of common core implementation on our students and teachers.”
Mr. Rose was tasked with authoring the resolution and I gladly offered conclusions from my research.”
“Major points I thought should be quantified include the fact that costs for implementing PARCC have not been finalized or communicated to local school systems and the tax payers of Bradley County.”
“Also, impact on teacher evaluation of the global conversation to PARCC has no formal remedy.”
“The biggest issue to me has been the recent pro-common core message claiming improvements in test schools, such as NAEP, as the sole result of radical reforms made by our Commisioner of Education.”
“The real impact to these results has been the meaningful changes in state standards made in 2009 implemented by our teachers.”
” Common Core is no silver bullet, Turner continued.”
“There are no quick fixes. Ask any classroom teacher and they’ll tell you that results take hard work and time.”
“The results we’re getting are the return on investment from the hard work of our students, parents, and our teachers,” he concluded.
These words by my representative are wise and was constructed from much thought, research, teacher input and parents concerns. These statements and the resolution were not made on a whim. It was well thought out and deliberate.
The message to all sent by this board is our kids are not for sale, our teachers are not puppets,the parents and this board are not idiots.
I believe it is important to review The main points inside this resolution and I have compiled it below.
These main points are from the Bradley County School Board resolution, shortened somewhat but content remains, a link is provided for exact details.
The Bradley County School Board Resolution on Common Core.
Click to access Bradley_County_Board_Of_Education_CC.pdf
1) The implementation of the Common Core Standards could be highly disruptive to student growth.
2) The CCS, Common Core Standards, with current TN Standards dilutes the effectiveness of teacher lesson planning.
3) The Board recommends that the use of PARCC assessment results not be used as part of TVAAS for the purpose of teacher evaluation, licensure, renewal or removal.
4) The Board rejects the collection of personal student data without consent.
5) Rejects the sharing of Personally Identifiable Information, PII, without consent.
6) The implementation resources of Common Core Standards for the teachers of Bradley County TN schools have been variable and dependent upon the source of training and professional development.
7) The variation above has created the opportunity for inconsistency of the implementation of Common Core standards.
8) Bradley County will be tasked with implementing Common Core Standards regardless of the fact that teacher evaluation and student achievement gains will be measured with EOC/TCAP assessments based solely on current TN standards.
9) It does not have a PARCC assessment plan that assures that every student in Bradley County will have equivalent instructional time to cover and reinforce standards prior to administration of PARCC assessments.
10) Will distort student growth data thence teacher evaluation as measured by the TVAAS system.
11) Has no money set aside for per student test adminstration for the current EOC/ TCAP test.
We the people have created this change. Concerned teachers, angry parents, tax payers and voters have spoken. The politicial puppets that beat the steady drum of Common Core regardless of the consequences on our children must now hear from you.
Let it be forever etched in every citizens mind that this week the Bradley County School Board in Cleveland Tennessee stood side by side many in the fight against Common Core.
The result is our children and their loved ones were considered. The elected body that represents them sent a resounding message and are willing to stand up against the grain and the lure of an almighty dollar.
I hope the news of this bold stance spreads across our state and nation and more school boards do the same.
Bradley School Board member Chris Turner sums it up best when he said,
“It (the resolution) expresses the facts and wipes away the opinions and rumors.”
“Above our lowly school board as elected officials, time and action will tell the story.”
Links of interest concerning this subject:
http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/2/7/269147/Bradley-School-Board-Told-It-Has-Solid.aspx
Directors of Schools hang on to Common Core despite huge opposition.
BCN Note- There are many that have been involved in this and many issues and my hat is off to you. Extended credit goes out to those warriors that stand and fight in local and state issues. I believe information’s the key. Keep supporting this venue. We are taking our state back one community at a time.
Bradley County News Network 
[…] the Bradley County Board of Education lacks a commitment to excellence, which is obvious from their unanimous resolution against the Common Core. But why do Haslam and K-Huff want so much secrecy that they’ll hide from an […]
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A no vote to Common Core is not a lack of commitment to excellence, in fact we view it as commitment to excellence. Haslam and Huffman are hiding what we already know, CC does not promote excellence in our
Kids. Our board is very attuned to that fact!
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