DESE: All In On Common Core – Alternative Points-Of-View Need Not Apply

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Received an e-mail today alerting us to an e-mail sent to various education-related personnel with the following text:

Support the Common Core Standards

The Missouri Learning Standards for education include the Common Core State Standards – a set of high-quality academic expectations in English language arts and mathematics. These standards define what students should know and be able to do to be on track for success in college and careers. The standards promote critical thinking and reasoning skills students need for success after high school graduation.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is compiling a list of supporters for the Common Core State Standards implementation in the state of Missouri. If you, your organization, or your school district, support the statement on our website, please send an email to communications@dese.mo.gov and let us know. We will add your name to the list of supporters.

·         Information on Common Core

·         Fordham Institute testimony on standards

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Being curious about the ‘Fairness’ of the DESE as we’re supposed to be concerned about ‘Fairness‘ in the State of Missouri, and ‘Fairness‘ is good, and ‘Fairness‘ is our goal, so the following e-mail was sent to the above address:

Greetings,

I received the information [above]. Are you employing fairness and also compiling a list of organizations that oppose Common Core Standards?

I look forward to your reply.

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Surprisingly, the reply was almost immediate:

Mr. Bollmann,

After careful study of Missouri’s standards and the common core standards, the State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards in 2010 as part of its duties for setting high standards for education according to the Missouri Constitution. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education supports the Common Core State Standards along with the overwhelming majority of the education and business community. Therefore, we are not compiling a list of those that do not support the standards.

Thanks,

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Communications | 573.751.3469 | dese.mo.gov

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Alternative points-of-view need not apply.

I believe I too will change my name to ‘Communications’.