COMMON CORE

I received the following email today from the Executive Director, Terri Novacek, of the Dehesa Charter School based in Escondido, California. (Emphasis in italics mine). It read:

"Many have heard, for better or worse, that California has adopted Common Core Standards. The DCS staff have been collaborating and designing ways to incorporate the new Common Core into our personalized methodology. We are finding the new standards to be much more in line with our philosophy of depth vs. breadth, and creative and critical thinking than the current standards. Next year, you will be presented with new learning plans that align with the new standards. FOR THOSE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH CHANGE, PLEASE TAKE A DEEP BREATH and give it a chance before you judge. I think you will appreciate the new approach to meaningful learning.

Sincerely, Terri Novacek, Executive Director"
----------------------
Here's what you might not already know about me. WE HOME SCHOOL. Dehesa Charter "School" is a private corporation which has created an educational umbrella so that people who want to homeschool, but don't feel comfortable "R4ing it" can have access to curriculum money and IEP services. Dehesa gets ADA money (Average Daily Attendance) just like public schools do, as well as money for state testing. In return, they parcel out about $300 PER STUDENT for the year for curriculum purchases. 

Ironically, they now want to dictate the public school Common Core garbage being forced next year onto public school students, but they aren't willing to ADHERE to the public school MINIMUM spending per student requirements. Hmmmm......audit anyone?

Terri Novacek's letter is representative of exactly what is wrong with the public education system (clearly, from whence she hails.) If we object to Common Core (like, if I didn't have a problem with CC, my kid would be in public school) we're just hysterical, uneducated parents. It's the enlightened, superior educators such as herself who really know what's best for our children.

I'm one of those people who have been aware for THREE YEARS that California was adopting Common Core. Like it was a surprise. The only surprise was that California gave all the publishers two years to create their new social engineering doctrine textbooks. 

This is not the first condescending, belittling communique Dehesa parents have received from Mrs. Novacek. I doubt it will be the last. But contrary to Mrs. Novacek's belittling belief, as a PARENT, I really do have choices about my children's education. I really can vote with my pocketbook. I really can OPT OUT of testing. You really CAN'T force me to LIE on my child's attendance record so you can falsify your submission to the state for ADA money.

People who know me, asked why I sent my child(ren) back to Dehesa after last year's campaign by Mrs. Novacek to remove parents from their childrens' classroom education (we have the "option" of sending our kids twice a week to a physical location for 'enrichment' classes). Actually, until that meeting, I wasn't aware that going to the location was "optional." I sure as heck wasn't sending my children there because they provided me with $200 worth of textbooks (puhleaze. Like I can't write a check for it?)

It was because my son especially, made a case for "finishing" with his "friends" (he's middle school age). 

I appreciate the heads up Terri darling. Good luck with that next year....when you're unemployed due to all your parents leaving in droves, don't ask me for a reference.