A response from our Rep, Chad Magendanz regarding my request for information ...

Wendee,

I hope you are having a wonderful week. On March 24^th, I simply told you that I would share those documents with Representative Magendanz. I did not agree that I would give you all the "studies done prior to implementation of the standards, from Education Specialists, Teachers, Child Development Specialist, previous success stories, etc. including paper documents, email documents or any other digital formats" that he may or may not have read. 

Also, I would like you to know that the FOIA is typically used for official agency documents, that may not already be available to the public. Your request doesn’t quite meet the scope of the law because no public official is required to keep record of the studies they have read on a particular subject.

Again, I hope you have a wonderful day. Take care!

Jessica Mohr

Jessica.Mohr@leg.wa.gov

Legislative Aide to Rep. Chad Magendanz, 5^th Legislative District

427 John L. O’Brien Building

(360) 786-7876

Parents please don't just take my word for it....

Have you noticed that you have trouble helping your child with what should be simple Math homework?  Have you noticed that your son or daughter is not able to spell, yet homework and lessons go uncorrected?  Have they gone from being excited to go to school to having an aversion to school and anything to do with it?  Do you see them falling further and further behind and their confidence disappearing.  Welcome to Common Core.

Common Core has united many parents, many are still not aware.  This blog will detail the struggle against Common Core, High Stakes Testing and the Dumbing down of our Children.  If you are a parent, I strongly encourage you to not take my word for it...Do the research, see the documents, listen to other parents.  As I move through this blog, I will post the troubling things I have found.  They come from many sources...News articles, social media, government documents, etc.  Hopefully, you will be as outraged as I am.

Common Core has been touted as a State Led effort....this is not true.  States were coerced into implement the curriculum with the Race to the Top Grant.  Any state accepting this grant agreed to implement these standards.  At this time they had not even been written.  They had no idea what they were getting our children into when they accepted this bribe.  What we now have in 46 states is an untested curriculum.  They are using our children as an experiment and the things spelled out in this blog will disturb you.   My daughters are not test subject.  With education and parenting, WE HAVE ONLY ONE CHANCE TO GET THIS RIGHT!

The Common Core curriculum was written by the National Governors Association (NGA), CCCSO, Achieve, Inc.  All heavily funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Pearson.  This process was not legislated, it was smuggled in without parents knowledge.  NONE of these organizations are accountable to the public, taxpayers, voters, etc.   Coincidentally, these organizations stand to make huge profits off of updated technology, new texts, data mining and cloud storage, etc.

One condition of the Race to the Top Grant was that states had to implement a State Longitudinal Database System (SLDS).  Data can be shared with "stakeholders", states and government.  This is a huge privacy issue.  Most of this data is being collected without knowledge of the parents.  Data collected is a gold mine for these companies.

Technology has been developed to monitor a child's response to certain subjects and stressors.  Those include FMRI, Pressure sensitive "mice", pressure sensitive seats, facial recognition cameras and wristbands that monitor vital signs.  Sound too far fetched.....Here is a picture:

Another condition of the Race to the Top Grant was implementing "rigorous standards" that would make students college ready.  The children are required to take an excessive amount of assessments (tracked by the SLDS).   Their primary focus is English Language Arts and Math.  Next year the Next Generation Science curriculum will be rolled out, do not be fooled, it is common core, rebranded.

Psychologists have spoken out against Common Core claiming that the standards are not age appropriate, that children are being asked to think abstractly when their brain is not able.  There have been claims that this can actually damage pathways in the brain.  As I move further and further through the blog, I will post sources to check out for yourself.

James Milgram and Sandra Stotsky, the only two educators on the validation panel REFUSED to sign off of the standards.

Inappropriate subjects have been worked into the English Language Art program, the schools will tell you that Sexual Education isn't a part of the curriculum, but I will post a link to the book here.   http://www.futureofsexed.org/documents/josh-fose-standards-web.pdf   Sexual education will begin in Kindergarten.  Sexual Education lessons are worked into the ELA program and the Math program (I'm not sure how the would work them into math).

If that isn't disturbing enough, history is distorted and constitutional amendments revised.  I've seen a lesson that said that the Constitution was outdated and being revised.  The assignment was to pick two amendments that the students thought needed to be revised.  A recurring theme of Socialism has taken hold.

Our children are under attack, along with our rights as parents.  We all need to collectively remind our government that they serve us and do not know what is best for our children.  Waiting for someone else to save OUR children is not an option!  Action needs to be taken now!

I will be posting frequently and adding sources to check as well as documenting my own experiences.   In the meantime, I've found Dr. Duke Pesta to be a great source of information.  A link to his video is here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si-kx5-MKSE

We need to take action immediately, our children deserve better.

Jessica Mohr final response on behalf of Chad Magendanz 3/24/2015

Wendee,

I am not sure if we are going to be able to find common ground on this issue. But I will forward on your documents on to the representative. We hope you have a wonderful day.

Jessica Mohr

Jessica.Mohr@leg.wa.gov

Legislative Aide to Rep. Chad Magendanz, 5^th Legislative District

427 John L. O’Brien Building

(360) 786-7876 

My rebuttal to her response....

Ms. Mohr,

Thank you for your response.  I really do appreciate it.   However I must say that feeling like my questions are not be answered.  I mean absolutely no disrespect, but we are all being lied to.  Our concerns as parents are being dismissed.   My point of view is based on hard research and data, not “anti-common core propaganda”.  It is based on my children’s experiences, other children experiments, conversations with teachers, Principals and even Assistant Superintendent Emilie Hard.  I’ve done my research.  This is the third time I’ve asked to see the research that Representative Magendanz has done PRIOR to implementation done by Education Experts, Child Psychology Professionals, etc.  I should be able to request it under the FOIA act, correct?  Please consider this my formal request under FOIA to the research done PRIOR to implementation of common core from Teachers, Education Experts, Previous Studies, Child Psychologists.  

Now I’d like to reply, statement by statement.

If Representative Magendanz has met and listened to his constituents regarding opposition to Common Core, why is he not speaking on behalf of them?   There should be no ‘common ground’.   We don’t want this for our children. That is what he was elected to do, correct?  Instead he remains committed to full implementation and I’ve even read a quote from him that no one has complained or said anything negative about it.  A bit of a discrepancy there.

I want to be perfectly clear, I am not unhappy with the “implementation" of Common Core, I am unhappy with Common Core and everything that goes with it.  I’m unhappy that my children are “test subjects”.  I am unhappy with the fact that our children are roughly two years behind, can’t spell, have trouble with basic addition and subtraction, yet are moving onto multiplication for two days, testing, then division for two days and testing.  The aren’t learning cursive or even facts that are correct about the Constitution.  They are being bombarded with sexual material, including the promotion of “alternative families” and anti-American propaganda and molded into “global citizens”  This has permeated every part of our life, there are now even "childhood obesity prevention standards".  My daughter and one other student that I know of at her school were denied their snack (which wasn’t unhealthy).  That is my choice as a parent.   If I want to send her to school with a candy bar for snack (I’d never do that), its my right as a parent.

Representative Magendanz, as you say, doesn’t support the feds dictating how to educate, yet he seems to have no issue with groups of private interest controlling education?   These organizations don’t have to answer to us as taxpayers and parents?   To me that is unacceptable!   As a parent and taxpayer,  whomever is educating my children should most certainly be accountable.  Local authority should remain, and we should repeal Common Core immediately.  We have no ability to go to these private interests that dictate these standards and ask for change and it is our children that are suffering.

You claim that Washington is a  ‘local control” state.  Washington accepted Race to the Top Grants, correct?  They are required to implement the standards, which are copyrighted.  They may not alter them, only add 15%.  The standards read like a script…let’s call it what it is, a curriculum.    If the claim that “local control” was true, how could you possibly be teaching the same thing, at the same time, in all states (for children that move from one state to another)? 

I have met with our Principal, our Assistant Superintendent to express my concern.  Emilie Hard had the gall to tell me that it was more important for a child to learn to read than spell.  Why is that?  My emails to the school board were met with a form letter and no answers to specific requests.  I have attempted to correspond with the Superintendent who wasn’t even courteous enough to respond.  

I’m not sure what “misguided” propaganda you are referring to.  My sources are mostly Government publications, publications from organizations involved in Common Core or personal experience.   Below are just a few examples of official documents that I’ve come across during my research.

The DOE guide Promoting, Grit, Tenacity and Perseverance….Feb 2013.  Page 44 is especially troubling detailing the use of posture analysis seats, pressure sensitive mouse, Wireless Skin Conductance Sensors, facial recognition cameras and a classroom FMRI.  Again, my children are not lab rats.

Chad Magendanz response via his Assistant Jessica Mohr on March 23, 2015

Wendee,

I apologize, that was not made clear in your original message.

What I can gather from your messages is that you are unhappy with the implementation of Common Core and that the voices of those who oppose Common Core are not being heard. I want to assure you that Representative Magendanz has met with dozens of anti-Common Core groups in hopes that they can find common ground and meets with classrooms and teachers regularly. Also, the Senate attempted to pass legislation that would allow Washington State to opt out of Common Core; that bill did not even get a hearing.

Rep. Magendanz does not support the feds dictating how to educate our kids and understands that a federal Board of Education would be unconstitutional. However, I want you to understand that Washington State is a “local control” state, and that means that our local school districts determine the curriculum for its students. So if you have a problem with the way that information is being taught in your local school district, you as a parents can bring those concerns to your school board and change it. No legislative action is needed. That is what the representative did before he was elected to the house of Representatives; he sat on the Issaquah School Board. He knows firsthand that the anti-Common Core propaganda is misguided. 

As for your concerns regarding student data, the legislature is far from being able to accurately collect data about student performance. The teachers unions, parents, and OSPI are adamantly opposed to taking the time to measure student success in a meaningful way.

If you have further questions, please let me know.

Jessica Mohr

Jessica.Mohr@leg.wa.gov

Legislative Aide to Rep. Chad Magendanz, 5^th Legislative District

427 John L. O’Brien Building

(360) 786-7876

My follow up letter to Chad Magendanz, our Representative after not getting a response.

Representative Magendanz,

Below you will find a copy of an email that I sent to you back on February 6, 2015.   I have yet to recieve your response.  

I have to say that I was very disappointed to read your quote in the Seattle Times .(http://old.seattletimes.com/html/education/2025753204_commoncoredebatexml.html) 

“Once folks read the actual standards, it’s a bit of an ‘emperor has no clothes’ moment,” said Rep. Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah, in an email. 

Both the far left and far right, he said, have found common ground in opposing the Common Core. That alliance has made Washington moderates in both parties wary of the anti-Common Core message, he said, and as a result, the political center here hasn’t been swayed by the arguments.

Your claim that no one has complained — not a teacher, a parent, etc. is utterly false.  I know that I, myself on 2/6/2015 sent you a letter detailing my concerns.  I know of several teachers and thousands of taxpayers have been in contact with  you and other Representatives, not only in Washington State, but across the country.  Our voices are not being heard!  Meanwhile, you stand idly by, letting state control of our education system be handed over to special interest groups that have NO accountability to us as voters and taxpayers.  Our children have become “lab rats", our parental rights ignored and every aspect of our life data mined.  These children aren’t learning anything other than to hate school.  They are confused.  Many can’t spell.  Have you visited a classroom to see what is going on?  Looked at a child’s journal to see the errors in spelling that go ignored.  How can you correct an issue if you don’t know there is one?

I’ve heard a lot about the cost of implementation, etc.   I really don’t care how much money we’ve spent for implementation, this was something that we, as taxpayers and voters didn’t ask for,  were lied to about and don’t want.   It needs to be fully repealed immediately.  We need to cut our losses and move on because the cost is too great for our children and the future of this country that my own Grandfather proudly fought for.

To quote the Declaration of Independence….We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. 

The Government has become corrupt and frankly, unproductive.  Our President has no respect for the law, yet is allowed to break the law unopposed.  It’s time for Government to be accountable to the people they serve, serve honorably or find another profession.  I’m not interested in people that have absolutely NO moral compass telling me what is best for my children.  I don’t want them collecting their data as if they are a science experiment for untested standards and selling or sharing that data with anyone and everyone who wants it.

In my previous email, I requested the research that you did that gives you the opinion that these standards are a positive thing for our children (especially when parents are seriously opposed).  I requested copies of the research that you did “PRIOR” to implementation from Educators, Child Development experts, proven success of the standards elsewhere.  I am still waiting for that response.  I would like facts, research and the data that everyone involved in Common Core seems to love.  I don’t want to be referred to OSPI’s website.  I’d like to understand why it is that you are such a staunch supporter of Common Core.  

I respectfully ask you to respond with the information that I have requested.  I also urge you to take a stand in getting common core repealed.  I anxiously await your response.

Regards,

Wendee Hewitt

A letter to my Representative Chad Magendanz

Representative Magendanz,

I am the mother of two daughters aged 17 and 8, both affected profoundly by what is happening in the education system.  My 17 year old carries a 4.0 GPA, yet can't pass ANY of these assessments and runs the risk of not graduating next year.  My 8 year old has gone from being excited about school and eager to learn in Kindergarten to having an aversion to it and any work related to it.  Homework time consists of crying because she is confused about the assignments.  I will admit, math has never been my strong suit, however my husband is a math whiz, has two college degrees, one in Electrical Engineering and one in Business Management.  He struggles sometimes to figure out our daughters math homework.  After speaking with other parents, I have learned that most share the same concerns.

It seems that our children are at least two years behind, which is huge considering they are only in 3rd grade.  The Common Core/Next Generation/College Ready (insert the next rebranded name here)  standards are breaking our children's spirits.  These students won't be college ready as promised, we will be extremely blessed to just see them graduate.  In an effort to express my opinion and ask questions, I have met with teachers, as well as the Principal of my youngest daughter’s school twice (one meeting included the Assistant Superintendent, Emilie Hard).  I have done my research on this subject after noticing the change in my youngest daughter and seeing the quality of work that she is bringing home.  I’ve spent 100s of hours researching and verifying information.  I am aware that the standards were written by Achieve, Inc., CCCSO, NGA, and other private interests HEAVILY funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  NONE of whom are accountable to parents, taxpayers or voters. Microsoft stands to make quite a bit of money on updating technology, data, cloud storage, etc.  Pearson profits from rewriting the curriculum and tests (which my daughters school uses).  Is it a coincidence that the Washington state schools, after losing their Title I waivers, were offered the Race to the Top Grant?  One thing I've learned in life is that there are NO coincidences.  I'm sure you are more informed on this subject than I, so I will spare you any further background info.  

I am extremely concerned, after watching two hours a legislative roundtable yesterday, stems from watching our elected representatives act like vultures trying to pick the last bits of flesh off of a carcass.  Funding, data, assessments…very little issues of substance were heard.  I did however, hear many concerns about the  Federal Government and the State, Principals several times.  What about the students and PARENTS?  Absolutely NO concern for the parents who are being stripped of our rights regarding decisions four our children. Or the damage that is being done to our children while we have NO power to make change because our representatives are not relaying our outrage and concern.  These are the same parents that are also the taxpayers that fund the education system, not to mention your generous salary.  Who, is being represented by the elected officials?  I don’t feel like it is myself or the other parents that spend their evenings drying the tears of their children, trying to boost their confidence and sitting up night after night wondering what to do?  How do we fix this not only for our children, but for the future of the country?  Would you want a physician in 30 years treating you that can’t calculate medication doses without using tally marks or his fingers?   One that needed remedial classes just to get into a university?  Two years of ‘free’ community college is no consolation for the opportunities that our children are being robbed of.   I'm sure that you as well as other elected officials have been contacted by other parents, upset because their children are being subjected to standards that we never asked for, we don't want and were smuggled in without our knowledge under the guise of "college readiness”.    These standards have been deemed developmentally inappropriate and potentially damaging to the pathways in the brains of children by child psychology professionals.  They are being taught subjects they don’t have the capacity to understand.   I want my children to have a chance to be children…not learning to organize a protest at age 8.  Mandatory pre-k is another example of government overstep. If a parent wants to participate in the head start program, it’s their choice.  Some mothers actually choose to stay home and be there to nurture their children. Parents can’t be forced to send their children off to school at age 3.  

Another huge issue is the data collection and invasion of our right to privacy.  Our children and family's data stored and shared without our knowledge or consent.  As Bill Gates has said it will take 10 years of analyzing data to see if ’this’ worked. If Bill Gates has children and would like to experiment on them, it’s his choice, but when it comes to my children, absolutely not!   We, as parents, have ONE chance to get this right in raising independent, intelligent adults!  Why on earth would we agree to implement and unwritten, untested curriculum? Our children are being "dumbed down", taught a revisionist version of the constitution, taught incorrectly at a  young age that the Government is all powerful, family is of no value, parents have no authority and anything goes when it comes to family structure (well unless you happen to be a parent concerned about the future of your children...if it doesn't fit Government agenda, you are deemed "unfit”).  One that is heavily slanted towards socialism. I’ve seen 3rd grade lessons about the constitution and bill of rights (a fairy tale version).   Were you aware that we have a right to a free public education?  Incorrect.  Or that you only have a right to bear arms as long as they are registered?  Incorrect. This is indoctrination and so blatantly obvious it’s disgusting. I’ve seen lesson telling students that the Bill of Rights is outdated and being re-worked.  Really?  I’d love to hear more. What happened to the American dream?  What happened to being accountable for our actions and standing on our own two feet.   Our children are not a science project!  They should have the belief that they can be anything they want to, not forced into careers because these baseless, untested assessments tell them that’s all they can do.   Many very intelligent people, highly successful people weren’t ‘honor roll’ students, but still managed to change the world with imagination and innovation.

We, as parents, have had our rights trampled by those that are supposed to serve us and represent our interests and gladly accept a paycheck from us.   I don't want my 8 year old reading books about why Susie has 'two mom’s' or 'two dads'.  I don't want her reading "Its perfectly normal" which shows all sorts of naked people, sex acts and frankly,  is porn (you can google it and see for yourself).     What ten year old needs to know how to put a condom on?  It is MY job as a parent to teach morals and instill the values I see fit as a mother, PERIOD.   I don't want my 8 year old reading that  because she is caucasian, there is some privilege (that is nonexistent) and that she should be ashamed.   Children are pure and nonjudgemental, but being tainted by what the school/state/government allows to quietly be taught in school.  I've always taught my children to be good to others and respectful to everyone and that there are respectful ways of dealing with conflict.

As a taxpayer, voter and parent, I have what I feel is a simple request.  Let's go back to traditional teaching methods.  We were able to put man on the moon, make huge advances in medicine and technology, etc.  Go back to the traditional grading system, excessive assessments are unnecessary.   You have an average of the grades they are receiving on each assignment and a great picture of their mastery of what is being taught.   Sure, a yearly assessment is reasonable.  These children can get back to learning, teachers can get back to teaching and inspiring children instead of advancing political agendas.  The idea that you can master vital skills after two days, test and move on is ridiculous.  Without repetition, you cannot master  the fundamentals, and without a strong foundation, you have nothing to build upon. Some children will never be college ready.  Some excel, are motivated and some just aren’t. It’s their choice to make.   Give them the fundamentals and let them flourish at their own pace.  Go back to teaching spelling.  Incorrect spelling isn't ‘creative', its ignorance.  My husband, who incidentally works in the STEM field and is responsible for hiring, receives resumes with terrible spelling and they don't get a second look.  I was stunned to have the Assistant Superintendent tell me during our meeting that she would rather have a student learn to read than spell.  Why can a student not learn both?  Traditional education methods managed to teach both, in addition to cursive and math above Algebra II, geography and other subjects not even mentioned these days.  Political agendas don’t have a place in my children’s classroom.   I don't want my daughters to have to count on their fingers to answer simple math, draw tally marks or squares or use a calculator for basic functions.  I don’t want them relying on spell check. 

I will close here by respectfully asking you to do what you were elected to do.  Be the voice of the people that elected you….the voice of these innocent children who aren't going to have a chance in the real world.  As a parent, I demand respect for my parental rights...I don't consent to my daughter's data collected and shared, I don't consent to digital texts in the classroom so I am left in the dark as to what is being taught as ‘fact’.  I don't consent to the inappropriate subjects and racial and political agenda’s being pushed.  I don’t want the school providing medical care without my consent.  My children are not wards of the state, they are MY children.   The Government does NOT know best.  My children are loved, well cared for and I will fight for them until my last breath.  The Government has truly forgotten it's place and I, as well as other outraged parents, will use our voices, votes, legal action, media outlets and other ways, to be heard until the proper balance is restored.    Our Founding Fathers intended for public service to be an honorable position, not one of prestige and PROFIT! Many great men and women, including my own Grandfather made great sacrifices to ensure we have the freedoms that both you and I enjoy today.   The constitution is a document to be honored and you, as well as other elected officials swore an oath to "protect and defend it from enemies both foreign and domestic”….  Are you upholding your oath by ignoring the voices of taxpayers and voters concerned about their freedoms being stripped away one by one?  Can you sleep at night with a clear conscience knowing that these children are being broken by this agenda?  I suggest you visit the elementary schools, look these children in the eyes, see the quality of what is being taught and sit with a child while they work on their homework.  I welcome you anytime to sit with my daughter and wipe her tears as you try to make sense of the nonsense these kids have to learn.  I guarantee that anyone with a soul will join the ranks of us parents that are losing sleep because they are worried about the damage being done and the outright abuse their children are suffering, at the hands of special interest and big business.  The Government does NOT know best, nor have the right to disregard parental rights.

Since you appear to be such a staunch supporter of Common Core,  I’d love to hear why.  What research did you do BEFORE implementation? Previous studies showing success?   Do you have any reviews of the curriculum by Child psychologists?  I have spent 100s of hours looking for just one reason why this is a positive thing and can’t seem to find anything of benefit to my children.  Plenty of benefits for special interest and private companies, all at the expense of children, parents and teachers and the future of this country.

The bottom line is...I just want to raise my children how I see fit, peacefully, with the values I deem to be appropriate.  I don’t want my daughter being told that she can’t have her snack because it had 23 grams of sugar (it happened to me yesterday).  If I want to send her with a candy bar and a soda, (which I would never do) it is my right.  As a taxpayer and voter, I want elected officials to take time to realize that they were elected by us, demand they work on our behalf and realize that they can and will be replaced if they don’t start doing their jobs.  I don't want a Government that has been caught in more scandals than I care to count,  full of people lacking any moral compass, to deem what is morally acceptable for my children and dictate standards that they have to live up to in order to succeed in life. Thank you for your time.  I have included a photo I took yesterday of a poster hanging by our school office….this is the future.
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Sincerely,
Wendee Hewitt

An Open Letter to Senator Patty Murray 2/7/2015

Senator Murray,

I am the mother of two daughters aged 17 and 8, both affected profoundly by what is happening in the education system. My 17 year old carries a 4.0 GPA, yet can't pass ANY of these assessments and runs the risk of not graduating next year. My 8 year old has gone from being excited about school and eager to learn in Kindergarten to having an aversion to it and any work related to it. Homework time consists of crying because she is confused about the assignments. I will admit, math has never been my strong suit, however my husband is a math whiz, has two college degrees, one in Electrical Engineering and one in Business Management. He struggles sometimes to figure out our daughters math homework. After speaking with other parents, I have learned that most share the same concerns.

It seems that our children are at least two years behind, which is huge considering they are only in 3rd grade. The Common Core/Next Generation/College Ready (insert the next rebranded name here) standards are breaking our children's spirits. These students won't be college ready as promised, we will be extremely blessed to just see them graduate. In an effort to express my opinion and ask questions, I have met with teachers, as well as the Principal of my youngest daughter’s school twice (one meeting included the Assistant Superintendent, Emilie Hard). I have done my research on this subject after noticing the change in my youngest daughter and seeing the quality of work that she is bringing home. I’ve spent 100s of hours researching and verifying information. I am aware that the standards were written by Achieve, Inc., CCCSO, NGA, and other private interests HEAVILY funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. NONE of whom are accountable to parents, taxpayers or voters. Microsoft stands to make quite a bit of money on updating technology, data, cloud storage, etc. Pearson profits from rewriting the curriculum and tests (which my daughters school uses). Is it a coincidence that the Washington state schools, after losing their Title I waivers, were offered the Race to the Top Grant? One thing I've learned in life is that there are NO coincidences. I'm sure you are more informed on this subject than I, so I will spare you any further background info.

My concern, after watching two hours of the legislative roundtable yesterday, stems from watching our elected representatives act like vultures trying to pick the last bits of flesh off of a carcass. Funding, data, assessments…very little issues of substance were heard. I did however, hear many concerns about the Federal Government and the State, Principals several times. What about the students and PARENTS? Absolutely NO concern for the parents who are being stripped of our rights regarding decisions four our children. Or the damage that is being done to our children while we have NO power to make change because our representatives are not relaying our outrage and concern. These are the same parents that are also the taxpayers that fund the education system, not to mention your generous salary. Who, Ms. Murray exactly are you representing? I don’t feel like it is myself or the other parents that spend their evenings drying the tears of their children, trying to boost their confidence and sitting up night after night wondering what to do? How do we fix this not only for our children, but for the future of the country? Would you want a physician in 30 years treating you that can’t calculate medication doses without using tally marks or his fingers? One that needed remedial classes just to get into a university? Two years of ‘free’ community college is no consolation for the opportunities that our children are being robbed of. I'm sure that you as well as other elected officials have been contacted by other parents, upset because their children are being subjected to standards that we never asked for, we don't want and were smuggled in without our knowledge under the guise of "college readiness”. These standards have been deemed developmentally inappropriate and potentially damaging to the pathways in the brains of children by child psychology professionals. They are being taught subjects they don’t have the capacity to understand. I want my children to have a chance to be children…not learning to organize a protest at age 8. Mandatory pre-k is another example of government overstep. If a parent wants to participate in the head start program, it’s their choice. Some mothers actually choose to stay home and be there to nurture their children. Parents can’t be forced to send their children off to school at age 3.

Another huge issue is the data collection and invasion of our right to privacy. Our children and family's data stored and shared without our knowledge or consent. As Bill Gates has said it will take 10 years of analyzing data to see if ’this’ worked. If Bill Gates has children and would like to experiment on them, it’s his choice, but when it comes to my children, absolutely not! We, as parents, have ONE chance to get this right in raising independent, intelligent adults! Why on earth would we agree to implement and unwritten, untested curriculum? Our children are being "dumbed down", taught a revisionist version of the constitution, taught incorrectly at a young age that the Government is all powerful, family is of no value, parents have no authority and anything goes when it comes to family structure (well unless you happen to be a parent concerned about the future of your children...if it doesn't fit Government agenda, you are deemed "unfit”). One that is heavily slanted towards socialism. I’ve seen 3rd grade lessons about the constitution and bill of rights (a fairy tale version). Were you aware that we have a right to a free public education? Incorrect. Or that you only have a right to bear arms as long as they are registered? Incorrect. This is indoctrination and so blatantly obvious it’s disgusting. I’ve seen lesson telling students that the Bill of Rights is outdated and being re-worked. Really? I’d love to hear more. What happened to the American dream? What happened to being accountable for our actions and standing on our own two feet. Our children are not a science project! They should have the belief that they can be anything they want to, not forced into careers because these baseless, untested assessments tell them that’s all they can do. Many very intelligent people, highly successful people weren’t ‘honor roll’ students, but still managed to change the world with imagination and innovation.

We, as parents, have had our rights trampled by those that are supposed to serve us and represent our interests and gladly accept a paycheck from us. I don't want my 8 year old reading books about why Susie has 'two mom’s' or 'two dads'. I don't want her reading "Its perfectly normal" which shows all sorts of naked people, sex acts and frankly, is porn. What ten year old needs to know how to put a condom on? It is MY job as a parent to teach morals and instill the values I see fit as a mother, PERIOD. I don't want my 8 year old reading that because she is caucasian, there is some privilege (that is nonexistent) and that she should be ashamed. Children are pure and nonjudgemental, but being tainted by what the school/state/government allows to quietly be taught in school. I've always taught my children to be good to others and respectful to everyone and that there are respectful ways of dealing with conflict.

As a taxpayer, voter and parent, I have what I feel is a simple request. Let's go back to traditional teaching methods. We were able to put man on the moon, make huge advances in medicine and technology, etc. Go back to the traditional grading system, excessive assessments are unnecessary. You have an average of the grades they are receiving on each assignment and a great picture of their mastery of what is being taught. Sure, a yearly assessment is reasonable. These children can get back to learning, teachers can get back to teaching and inspiring children instead of advancing political agendas. The idea that you can master vital skills after two days, test and move on is ridiculous. Without repetition, you cannot master the fundamentals, and without a strong foundation, you have nothing to build upon. Some children will never be college ready. Some excel, are motivated and some just aren’t. It’s their choice to make. Give them the fundamentals and let them flourish at their own pace. Go back to teaching spelling. Incorrect spelling isn't ‘creative', its ignorance. My husband, who incidentally works in the STEM field and is responsible for hiring, receives resumes with terrible spelling and they don't get a second look. I was stunned to have the Assistant Superintendent tell me during our meeting that she would rather have a student learn to read than spell. Why can a student not learn both? Traditional education methods managed to teach both, in addition to cursive and math above Algebra II, geography and other subjects not even mentioned these days. Political agendas don’t have a place in my children’s classroom. I don't want my daughters to have to count on their fingers to answer simple math, draw tally marks or squares or use a calculator for basic functions. I don’t want them relying on spell check.

I will close here by respectfully asking you to do what you were elected to do. Be the voice of the people that elected you….the voice of these innocent kids who aren't going to have a chance in the real world. As a parent, I demand respect for my parental rights...I don't consent to my daughter's data collected and shared, I don't consent to digital texts in the classroom so I am left in the dark as to what is being taught as ‘fact’. I don't consent to the inappropriate subjects and racial and political agenda’s being pushed. I don’t want the school providing medical care without my consent. My children are not wards of the state, they are MY children.
They are loved, well cared for and I will fight for them until my last breath. The Government has truly forgotten it's place and I, as well as other outraged parents, will use our voices, votes, legal action, media outlets and other ways, to be heard until the proper balance is restored. Our Founding Fathers intended for public service to be an honorable position, not one of prestige and PROFIT! Many great men and women, including my own Grandfather made great sacrifices to ensure we have the freedoms that both you and I enjoy today. The constitution is a document to be honored and you, as well as other elected officials swore an oath to "protect and defend it from enemies both foreign and domestic”…. Are you upholding your oath by ignoring the voices of taxpayers and voters concerned about their freedoms being stripped away one by one? Can you sleep at night with a clear conscience knowing that these children are being broken by this agenda? I suggest you visit the elementary schools, look these children in the eyes, see the quality of what is being taught and sit with a child while they work on their homework. I welcome you anytime to sit with my daughter and wipe her tears as you try to make sense of the nonsense these kids have to learn. I guarantee that anyone with a soul will join the ranks of us parents that are losing sleep because they are worried about the damage being done and the outright abuse their children are suffering, at the hands of special interest and big business.

The bottom line is...I just want to raise my children how I see fit, peacefully, with the values I deem to be appropriate. As a taxpayer and voter, I want elected officials to take time to realize that they were elected by us, demand they work on our behalf and realize that they can and will be replaced if they don’t start doing their jobs. I don't want a Government that has been caught in more scandals than I care to count, full of people lacking any moral compass, to deem what is morally acceptable for my children and dictate standards that they have to live up to in order to succeed in life. I appreciate your time.

Sincerely
Wendee Hewitt