Common Core

Download the pdf of the plan!

Common Core is one of the most important and personal issues in my opinion. Not only because of the enormity of the backlash towards it that has come from countless parents across New York, but because I am one of those parents opposed to it. My daughter Gracie, my youngest, is forced to deal with this debacle of overreach and I have come to see it at the proverbial straw that has broken the camel’s back. Do what you want to me, but stay away from my daughter--stay away from our children!

The system we had before wasn’t the best, but at least parents could help their children with it. This nightmare even removes us from this equation as the ‘problems’ that Common Core puts before our children are so convoluted and (quite frankly) bizarre that we can’t help our children with them. Only the schools, the teachers–the State–are able to help our children out, setting into motion the further degradation of the bonds between us and our children, an outcome that I cannot help but believe was part of the reason behind the creation of Common Core in the first place.

Our children are our most important gift and once again government and big corporations have found a way to further drive us away from each other. I cannot help but think of these words from John D. Rockefeller:

‘I do not want a nation of thinkers, I want a nation of workers.’ 

Can Common Core give our children any future but this one? I think not, and neither do you, which is why I pledge to put a stop for it once and for all.

Common Core is one of the most backwards, upside down and wrong-headed ideas to ever come out of the minds of government–and that’s saying something. It must be stopped, and together we can stop it.

From a VERY angry parent, who had SENT a letter to their New York State school, to refuse Common Core Testing:

“For anyone who has children in school I am so mad now I am going to have an aneurism. My daughter in 5th grade just came home and said the school forced her to take the NYS field test ELA, I had already sent a letter to the school telling them that I do not want my daughter taking any common core tests. After calling the school I was told that I had to specifically state in my letter that I had to word the letter properly and could not just say state test. I had to say All NY state tests,Benchmarks, Field tests and Assessments..This is the most infuriating b******* I have ever heard of.” – Sherman, angry and disillusioned parent in New York

So, as a public service, here is a boilerplate letter you can download and print, along the guidelines stated by the school, based on a letter written by the “Truth in American Education” group, and adapted to New York State**:

– Common Core Opt Out Sample Letter

** – Please note that this is NOT legal advice, and should not be construed as such. All documents should be evaluated by an attorney, as to their effectiveness and possible legal ramifications prior to submission. You should get legal advice in ANY matter regarding your child or rights as a parent. This letter is for informational purposes only.