We Will Lose the Story of US

Common Core standards rely nearly 100 percent on informational text versus historical text or classical literature. As one with a minor in history (emphasis on Louisiana history and the south in general) and one whose family roots run as far back as the 1700's when my ancestor, Henri Louis Ranson, became attorney general of Spanish Louisiana, I have to wonder how much Louisiana history will be contained in informational text. 

For decades, we have prided ourselves on our unique culture. We have spent billions of dollars on tourism ads and marketing our unique culture to the world. Our 8th graders have spent most of their year studying Louisiana history. It was a lesson most kids looked forward to as it involved field trips to the capitol, Avery Island, plantation homes, swamp tours, etc.

What is going to happen to all of that under Common Core? Even if one ceases to call it Common Core, workforce development and training do not take our culture into account.

The Common Core standards, or whatever they will end up being called, do not leave room for Louisiana history. Will our children cease to learn about Le Grand Dérangement? What about Hernando Desoto, the Louisiana Purchase, the numerous contributions Louisianians have made to the world, such as jazz?

Again, like it or not, teachers WILL teach to the test as their jobs, their livelihoods depend on their students scoring well; teachers will not spend time teaching materials that are NOT on the test. Pretty sure the national assessment tests will not ask about Evangeline or what took place at the Battle of New Orleans.

We are unique. Our culture, our people, our way of life are like no other in the world. Why do we want to educate our children to be like everyone else? Our children need to be proud of their exceptional heritage and proud of where they came from.

How can our children appreciate anything of Louisiana history if they are not going to be taught about it?

Crisis of Confidence

Text of an email sent to the Louisiana Senate Education Committee members.

In last week’s Senate Education Committee meeting, Senator Walsworth made reference to the fact that there is a “trust” issue between parents and legislators, especially when debating student data privacy bills.

Senator Walsworth is correct: there is a trust issue. A major trust issue.  Here’s why:

1. On December 7, 2010, Discovery Education (a subsidiary of Discovery Communications) announced: “the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education officially adopted the Discovery Education Science Elementary Techbook for Louisiana and the Discovery Education Science Middle School Techbook for Louisiana.
2. On November 30, 2010, just a few days prior to Discovery's announcement, Senator Appel purchased stock in Discovery Communications. (2010 Financial Disclosure Statement of Conrad Appel)  Discovery Education material is Common Core-aligned.
3. Senator Appel purchased stock in Microsoft on June 4, 2012. (2012 Financial Disclosure Statement of Conrad Appel)
1. On May 25, 2012, the Louisiana legislature approved the implementation of Common Core in Louisiana (HB 707, ACT 275);
2. The 2012 Legislative Session adjourned June 4, 2012.

Some have suggested that Senator Appel’s purchase of Discovery Communications stock prior to the announcement of the adoption of textbooks and other digital materials by Discovery is tantamount to insider trading. I don’t know that I would go that far but one thing is for sure, his timing is suspicious and has raised more than a few eyebrows.

So how does Senator Appel’s June 4, 2012 purchase of Microsoft stock come into play?  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent more than $200 million to pay for every aspect of the Common Core: the writing, the reviews, the evaluation, the implementation, the promotion and advocacy by numerous groups across the nation. www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database

I have a hard time believing that Bill Gates has given so much money out of the goodness of his heart and expects nothing in return. Bill Gates is a businessman, ergo he is all about the profit. Common Core and all that it entails (PARCC assessment testing, building out Louisiana’s data system to federal specifications) is all about technology: digital textbooks, digital assessments, digital monitoring of teachers for evaluation purposes, building databases to effectively measure student achievement and teacher performance, just to name a few.  That’s an awful lot of hardware and software that needs to be purchased, updated and upgraded regularly. Remember, Common Core is being implemented nationwide.

Microsoft, directly and through existing and newly created partnerships (See February 20, 2014 PRNewsire announcement from Pearson and Common Core Partnership Reveals Growing Impact on Curricula) has the potential to make untold millions from the educational overhaul The Gates Foundation is funding in the United States.

With full implementation of Common Core, Senator Appel stands to monetarily benefit from his purchase of Microsoft stock; Senator Appel stands to monetarily benefit from his purchase of Discovery Communications stock.

R.S. 42:1101, Section B states:

It is essential to the proper operation of democratic government that elected officials and public employees be independent and impartial; that governmental decisions and policy be made in the proper channel of the governmental structure; that public office and employment not be used for private gain other than the remuneration provided by law; and that there be public confidence in the integrity of government.  The attainment of one or more of these ends is impaired when a conflict exists between the private interests of an elected official or a public employee and his duties as such.  The public interest, therefore, requires that the law protect against such conflicts of interest and that it establish appropriate ethical standards with respect to the conduct of elected officials and public employees without creating unnecessary barriers to public service.  It is the purpose of this Chapter to implement these policies and objectives.

Again, I am not asserting that Senator Appel broke any laws; I am not asserting that Senator Appel violated the state Code of Ethics as there is no absolute proof that Senator Appel knowingly used his public office for private gain. However, his actions are suspect, his timing is suspect and, as a result, he has created a crisis of confidence at a time when parents are fighting for the rights and privacy of their children.

From this point forward, there will always be a cloud of suspicion surrounding any education bills sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Appel.  His ties to Common Core-aligned companies, especially those that are so closely tied to data collection, make it impossible to trust Senator Appel’s motives for any legislation regarding Common Core. To that end, I respectfully request that any and all education bills and data privacy bills sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Appel yet to be heard by the Senate Education Committee be involuntarily withdrawn immediately.