Something to look for in your public school library.....

This book, "It's Perfectly Normal" is not appropriate for a 10 year old (in my opinion).  It has NO place in a public school.  I was able to get a copy of it and it made me sick.  It was much worse than the previews I'd seen online.  It is geared for ages 10 and up and covers pretty much every aspect of sex in excruciating detail, including abortion rights and how to put on a condom.  I urge parents to see if it is in their child's school library and demand it is removed if you are one of the many offended by it.  Most school websites have a link to their library catalog and it takes two minutes of your time to check.  Well worth the time.

Here is a link to some of the images in the book.

http://illinoisfamily.org/110files/uploads/2013/05/Its-Perfectly-Normal.pdf

The day I said "no more"....

After my overwhelming frustration over spending hours and hours going back and forth with school administration and local politicians regarding common core, I was hopeful when we purchased a home and were starting fresh in a new district that I'd see an improvement. 

It took one week in the our new elementary school for all hope to be smashed.   My youngest daughter was miserable.   I couldn't help but notice the other students were miserable...during just a five minute visit to the school, I saw two children crying hysterically.  I overheard the exchanges between parents and children at the end of the day... and the all too familiar response to "how was school today"..."bad".

I could not do this anymore.  Although I had reservations, I was ready to homeschool.   I was tired of seeing meaningless homework, poor spelling and the sinking look when I dropped her off at school.  I could see, slowly that her spirit was being broken.  Then something that I had not seen in the previous district came home.   The first lesson in "racial bias" came home.    I tried to dismiss it as me looking for reasons to not like the school and filed it away.  The straw that broke the camel's back came a day or two later when a weekly letter from the teacher came home.  It was to inform us that she didn't know what they were going to be evaluating on report cards because the district had not shared that information with the teachers as of the moment.  and I was determined to find a common core-free private school or teach her at home.  My daughter was no longer going to be an experiment.

 

I began researching private schools in our area.  I was absolutely sure that it was going to be something that we couldn't afford, especially after buying a new home.  I thank God I did that search.   I emailed them explaining in my original inquiry that I was looking for a school with no ties to  common core, the data collection, etc. and expressed my concerns regarding where my daughter was  academically.  I received a response from the Principal of the school and she couldn't agree more with my views on common core and expressed regret that children are being subjected to this.  She gave me some information on the school and offered to test my daughter to see if my concerns were justified.

We met the next day with the Vice Principal (who is also a teacher).  We spoke in depth about our concerns.  She gave our daughter just a basic test and as suspected, she is lacking the fundamentals in spelling and math.  The teacher said that she was confident that with hard work and practice, she would get to where she needs to be.  It wasn't going to be easy, but definitely a reasonable goal.  At the end of our meeting, she invited our daughter to join the class to make bird feeders.  I was impressed by the relationship that the teacher had with her students.  They were happy and respectful and their knowledge impressed me.   Just after that one brief interaction, we could see the spark again.  She was having fun learning.  We enrolled her.  We couldn't afford NOT too.  I verified repeatedly for my own piece of mind that common core would play NO part in her schooling and they happily confirmed it.  No common core, no data collection, etc.  The school is strictly parent supported and had nothing to do with the common core standards.

I have an older daughter as well, she is a senior in high school and I can't help but wonder what the damage has been to her as well.  Common core has affected her too, it just wasn't as blatant and "in your face" as it is today.  I hadn't noticed how much things had changed until my youngest was in school.  My oldest has always been at the top her class, just recently receiving her letter in academics.  All without much effort...or really any effort at all.  She is wise beyond her years and one that you know can do great things in life, but truthfully, I am scared that when she graduates and finishes college, she will be one of the estimated 94 million people that can't find a job or career.  I really believe that this generation is in for a very difficult wake up call in the "real world".

I have to say that walking into my youngest daughters old school and telling them that she would not be coming back felt great.  They asked for a reason and I gave it to them calmly and honestly....I cannot do this to my daughter anymore...I want nothing to do with the common core standards.  Saying it felt even better because there happened to be quite a few parents in the office that day.  If I can raise awareness for just one of them...it would make me happy.  The look on the Principal's face (who happened to be standing there) was priceless.  Of course she rushed right over and quietly questioned what I objected to...So I gave her a list.  I have to say by her response I don't think she expected me to be informed and definitely not as blunt in response.

My youngest has started her new school and we couldn't be happier with our choice.  It feels truly like the weight of the world has been lifted off of my shoulders.  I can sleep at night.  She is learning by using more traditional proven methods.  She's not being trained to be a drone in society, she's being educated. She isn't sitting in front of a computer or an iPad all day (or any great period of time during the day).  The change just after the first week was remarkable.  For the first time since Kindergarten, I didn't feel like I was punishing her by dropping her off at school.  The anxiety and avoidance with anything school-related is slowly dissipating. Her teacher told me that she is doing better than expected, that the only major obstacle is her self-confidence.  To be honest that broke my heart, when I heard that.   It's hard to think of my sweet little girl struggling to be confident at such a young age, but to know that there are scores of other children out there dealing with the same thing really is beyond words.  What are they doing to these children?  Honestly, what the hell is going on?  

My fight is not over....I am still researching and will continue to do so and speak out and relay the perspective of those I come into contact with.   I will be adding links to important relevant material that all parents should be aware of.  We cannot let this continue.  We have to take our children back.

I urge you to do everything within your power to get your children out of public schools  (not into a charter school--a parent funded, school).  My family has been very blessed to have the opportunity to send our youngest to a private school...It does come at a cost.   I realize that times are hard and not everyone can do the same and I mean no disrespect.   If you have no other option but to leave your child in public school, please do the research, get involved and start speaking out.  These are our children.  We are funding the education system.  We are paying the salaries of those elected.    More importantly, as parents, we owe our children we have an obligation to protect our children from harm.

My 4th grader brought this home today...

This is a letter written by my 4th graders teacher.  I am shocked to see the admission that the district hasn't shared what they will be evaluating for report cards.  Also included was the admission that the class will not be covering social studies, science or health this year.

While looking through my 4th graders homework, I wasn't surprised (but disappointed) to see what was being studied.   White privilege has again reared its ugly head.   I am more than likely going to offend someone with this blog entry and the truth is, I just don't care anymore.  We are so obsessed with being politically correct, that any logical thought is taboo. Yes, slavery did happen.  100+ years ago.  I can understand studying it for historical value.  Yes, it was inexcusable.   Incidentally most people are blissfully unaware that African Americans owned slaves as well.   However a simple acute historical lesson is not what is happening.  It is being used to create racial divide and further drive down  My daughter is caucasian.  She had nothing to do with slavery.  I had nothing to do with slavery.  My parents and grandparents had nothing to do with slavery.   She has no reason to be ashamed because she is a caucasian female, just as any African American should not be ashamed due to the color of his/her skin.  We are all God's children.  I am sick of the "poor me" attitude that is being reinforced with these lessons.  It only drives the entitlement attitude that young people have today (and I am talking about ALL races).  We have all faced adversity and discrimination, it gives you a chance to strengthen and grow.   We all have to take responsibility for our actions, but these are not OUR sins to repent for.  We, whether it be black, white, etc. need to ban together and stop this insanity.  Black lives matter, white lives matter, all lives matter!  There is no shame in being any race.

I ask that people of all colors, races stand with me to demand this type of "programming" stops.  Children are not born hating other races, it is learned.  We need to stand together and empower and support each other and demand better for our children.

"United we stand, divided we fall".

Is this the nail in the coffin for state authority?

Last year I sat with our school Principal and the Assistant Superintendent and told them that this was in the works.  They looked at me and both had a good chuckle.  This is the nail in the coffin for state authority....




From whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com...

https://whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com/2015/08/24/effective-sept-2015-feds-remove-state-authority-over-special-needs-students-and-redefine-who-is-special-needs/


We need to start paying attention and start take action.

Sexual Education Standards for K-12....see for yourself

This post is going to be short today, but I wanted to put information out for parents.

The Sexual Education Standards for K-12.  Because what Kindergartner doesn't need to know about the birds and the bees.


Page 6 is very interesting.  Sexual Education will be worked into English Language Arts and Math.  No permission slip needed.

I urge you to really check this out.

http://www.futureofsexed.org/documents/josh-fose-standards-web.pdf

Read that document, click around some of the resource pages and trust, me you will want to vomit.  I can't fathom having "the talk" with a Kindergartner.  It is a parents place to have that kind of discussion when appropriate (as decided by a parent).  A school is no place to be explaining complex things like same sex families and religion either (and I know I will be called a bigot, whatever.  I don't believe that is the place).  These kids can't spell, they don't know cursive.  Lord help us.

Do you realize that your children's future lies in the hands of special interest?

It is true.  Unelected organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Achieve, Inc. (funded by Gates), NGA, CCSSO and MANY more are dictating how and what your children will learn.  None of these organizations are elected or accountable to the public.  What gives Bill Gates the authority to dictate what our children are learning or how they should learn it?  He is obviously brilliant, but has no background in education or child development.

Mr. Gates, (a man that dropped out of college) is calling the shots regarding our children's education.  It's also important to note that he is peddling something he won't subject his own kids to.  A few quotes from Gates:

“It would be great if our education stuff worked, but that we won’t know for probably a decade.”

Our children are Bill Gates experiment in his eyes.  Data.  Profit.  Not children.  He doesn't sit with them and dry their tears and console them while they are doing homework.  He doesn't see them struggle with spelling, despite the fact that these kids are bright.  He doesn't see the weight of the world on their shoulders when they are dropped off at school.  School once was fun and exciting, but now our children are developing anxiety and physical symptoms because of the damage Gates little project is doing to them.

More quotes from Gates...

"This is encouraging—but identifying common standards is not enough. We’ll know we’ve succeeded when the curriculum and the tests are aligned to these standards."

"to create just these kinds of tests—next-generation assessments aligned to the common core. When the tests are aligned to the common standards, the curriculum will line up as well—and that will unleash powerful market forces in the service of better teaching."

"For the first time, there will be a large uniform base of customers eager to buy products that can help every kid learn and every teacher get better."

In an interview, Gates said his role is to fund the research and development of new tools, such as the Common Core, and offer them to decision-makers who are trying to improve education for millions of Americans.  It's up to the Government to decide which tools to use, but someone has to invest in their creation.

It's up to the Government?  What?

There are three federal laws that prohibit federal departments or agencies from directing, supervising or controlling elementary and secondary school curricula, programs of instruction and instructional materials, yet the US Department is taking over education.

So I must ask again, who's children are these?

The Supreme Court of the United States in 2000 declared that “the liberty interest…of parents in the care, custody, and control of their children is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by [the] Court.” Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000), at 65. In fact, this right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children predates the Court itself. It is a right that was already understood and acknowledged long before the United States came to be.

The fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the State to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925), at 535.

The law’s concept of the family rests on a presumption that parents possess what a child lacks in maturity, experience, and capacity for judgment required for making life’s difficult decisions. More important, historically it has recognized that natural bonds of affection lead parents to act in the best interests of their children...

Most children, even in adolescence, simply are not able to make sound judgments concerning many decisions, including their need for medical care or treatment. Parents can and must make those judgments. Parham v. J.R., 442 U.S. 584 (1979), at 602-3.

The history and culture of Western civilization reflect a strong tradition of parental concern for the nurture and upbringing of their children. This primary role of the parents in the upbringing of their children is now established beyond debate as an enduring American tradition. Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972), at 232.

This link is a good source of information on parental right cases.

http://www.parentalrightsfoundation.org/index.asp?SEC={DD7104C6-0EBA-41FF-B528-907D2ABA8FC6}

This interview with Gates speaks volumes with his body language and unwillingness to answer simple questions.  

http://wapo.st/1hGqByl

His network of gate-keepers (no pun intended) is stunning.  He happens to have a lot of former employees and friends in high places (I will make no claim that I cannot back up and will detail this in-depth in an upcoming post).  My own representative, Chad Magendanz, is deeply devoted to the standards, although parents are expressing concerned.   It is a fact that this man worked for Gates for years and has made several appearances with Gates.  He also has campaign endorsements and ties to many of the big time profiteers of Common Core (many being funneled cash by Gates).   I plan to deeply detail this man and others in an effort to expose the true intent and conflict of interest behind this movement in education reform.   These are elected officials that will not budge in spite of parent and voter concerns.  They no longer represent their constituents, they are  special interest puppets.

So, I will get to my point.  These are our precious children that some spoiled egomaniac (in my humble opinion) is using as a science project.  The future of our children and this country is hanging in the balance.  Do we take action or go quietly, allowing our children to be data "cash cows" and give up the right to make decisions in our children best interests.  


More to come soon...

The data mining of your children and family.

Are you aware that schools are collecting invasive information on YOUR child and sharing it with "stakeholders"?  States aligned with Common Core are required to maintain an SLDS or Statewide Longitudinal Data System which tracks just about anything they can find out about your child and family.   Sound a little far fetched?   Illegal?   I will share with you just a fraction of  the information I have come across during my research.  There are a lot of links, but I assure you that you will want to read every bit of what I'm sharing with you.  I urge you to make copies and share because this information tends to get scrubbed from the internet.


You can about the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems here... https://nces.ed.gov/programs/slds/about_SLDS.asp.

Another good resource to explore on the subject... http://ies.ed.gov/data.asp.  You'll notice that these aren't coming from "second hand" sources...they are coming straight from Government websites.

The National Education Data Model contains around 400 points, including health history, disciplinary history, family income range, voting status of parents, religious affiliation, etc.  More info can be found at this link.  https://ceds.ed.gov

Pressure sensitive seats and mice, classroom FMRI's, facial recognition software and wireless skin conductance sensors that measure response to a student's exposure to subject material are in the works.  Sound like a Sci Fi movie?  This image is from page 44 of a Government document called " Promoting Grit, Tenacy and Perserverance:  Critical Factors For Success in the 21st Century"....

The link to the publication is here.....  http://tech.ed.gov/files/2013/10/OET-Draft-Grit-Report-2-17-13.pdf.

The most important thing you can do is read it, the information it contains is unreal.  I was shocked to see this on page 92.

• "As new forms of measurement emerge, there are important ethical considerations. As always, privacy is a particular concern, especially when leveraging data available in the “cloud” that users may or may not be aware is being mined. Another consideration is that learners and teachers now have the potential to get new forms of feedback about their behaviors, emotions, and physiological responses. Measurement developers must carefully consider the impacts of releasing such information to individuals and incorporate feedback mechanisms that are valuable, respectful, and serve to support productive mindsets.
  These subthemes suggest important general directions for research in the field.
  Conclusion 11: There is a critical need to advance measurement methods for several purposes: (1) practical tools for educators and learners, (2) tools for program design and evaluation, (3) instrumentation for research, and (4) diagnostic indicators to provide early warnings to schools about vulnerable students. New and emerging technologies provide important new opportunities."

New programs for tracking students and their behaviors seems to be cropping up daily on iTunes and Google, Amazon, etc.  I'm not certain of the security of the info collected and how vulnerable it is to hacking.  In my experience, you will not get a straight answer from school Administrators about data collection, so you have to do your own investigating.  I've tried to make it a little easier by adding info about some of the programs I have info on.

The first, TS GOLD (sometimes know as GOLD)   http://teachingstrategies.com/assessment/  A quote directly from a document on their website titled "Teaching Strategies GOLD:  Fast Facts for Decision-Makers"..  Online, Teaching Strategies GOLD offers even more support for assessment of children with disabilities: it is fully aligned with OSEP (Office of Special Education Programs) outcomes. It automatically converts the information entered from Teaching Strategies GOLD to the seven‐ point scale on the Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF), enabling administrators to generate OSEP‐mandated reports. Plus, for children who have IEPs, Teaching Strategies GOLD online will automatically provide teachers with additional dimensions related to self‐care, including feeding, toileting, dressing, and safety.

 Here is another link from TS GOLD  Birth through Kindergarten product under the "alignments" tab....  http://shop.teachingstrategies.com/page/73190-gold-assessment-toolkit.cfm#alignments

In this screen shot, they are talking about Birth-Kindergarten and the Army and Department of Defense already have requirements.  Why?  This screams "Hitler's youth" to me!

TS Gold also has an app in the iTunes store...so photos/video of YOUR children can be captured and funneled into the SLDS and shared with "stakeholders".  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/teaching-strategies-gold-documentation/id571518837?mt=8  Here is a link to an instruction video meant for school Admins and Teachers, you can actually see for yourself.  https://vimeo.com/user9054715/review/74935793/4afdfa0043 .   A link to their support page for the product.  http://teachingstrategies.com/support/free-support-curriculum/ .

Pearson (one of the biggest profiteers in Common Core and incidentally tied to the Libyan Government and Guddafi's son) has an app available through iTunes called BOSS (Behavioral Observation of Students in Schools) for educators.   Teachers are able to record and store videos of YOUR children.  These are also funneled into the SLDS and shared with pretty much anyone that thinks they have a stake in education.    Here is a link to the users guide for the system.
http://images.pearsonclinical.com/images/Assets/BOSS/BOSS_UsersGuide.pdf

Another example of YOUR child's invasion of privacy is the iRIS system. This 360 degree camera and microphone system that records every aspect of YOUR child's class, in real time.  The teacher is able to wear an earpiece and listen to feedback and coaching from parties another location.  Here is a link to a user guide for one of the products.  http://www.irisconnect.com/help/Content/PDF/USA_PDF/LiveView_Guide/LiveView_Guide.pdf


We need to, as parents, do our homework and not trust that what is happening today in the schools is being done with the best of intentions.  Our children are being used as test subjects and even worse, we are paying for it.  Schools and Government officials need to see the outrage of parents who are tired of watching as their children are being harmed and their future robbed from them.  Let's them not forget that they are public servants and employed and paid a salary, by us.  We've gotten complacent as a society and are allowing this to happen to innocent children.  Its time to do the work, our children are worth it.