Why do conservatives hate Common Core?

[CoffeeCat]

I was just duped. I was sent this link. It's a confusing math problem, designed to make people hate Common Core and believe that it is destroying our country and our children.

In short, the math problem was intentionally confusing and did not provide context. So, of course it was confusing. I couldn't figure it out. Turns out, conservatives are circulating this math problem with the tagline "China is laughing at us."

We know from history, that these lying bastards use sound bytes and easily digestible lies to confuse people into supporting their agenda. I'm just wondering WHY?

(BTW--I found an explanation for the math, and it's simple, easy and makes sense. I'll providing links to the misleading email--and the email that debunks the lie-based math email below).

I'm guessing--because conservatives are so predictable--that Common-Core objections are really about social issues. Let me guess…They don't want global warming or climate-change science taught because Glenn Beck told them that it's evil? They don't want correct history taught or evolution being taught?

Is it the social and science issues that are really driving this? I would appreciate any insight.

----------------------
Link to conservative-driven Common Core math problem that is intentionally confusing.
http://toprightnews.com/?p=3904

Article that explains Common Core math and debunks the initial confusing email.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/03/07/about-that-common-core-math-problem-making-the-rounds-on-facebook/

[ReverendDeuce]

1. They SAY it's because of "state's rights" or some other hogswallop...

But we all know the real issue: the President is black.

[Proud Public Servant]

2. I don't think it's social issues

I think it's a combination of two things: Common Core is a Federal initiative, and conservatives hate the federal government; and Common Core is designed to teach critical thinking skills (as that math problem illustrates; it teaches why math works, not just how it works).

[ReverendDeuce]

4. If the President was a white Republican, they'd lap it up.

We can't kid ourselves anymore.

[Proud Public Servant]

17. Not necessarily

Remember that there was a lot of right-wing opposition to No Child Left Behind.

[TBF]

3. I don't like common core either -

mostly because I think the entire goal is to replace teachers with proctors and do lessons via video or something like that. In their for-profit schools of the future a core curriculum makes it much easier to dumb it down and teach only what is deemed appropriate by common core. Although I know it started with the intentions of pulling all children up to the same level I think there is a lot of room there for it to be misused by capitalists.

I have no clue as to why conservatives don't like it but I bet it's not the same reason. Most likely guesses as you indicated would be that they want more local control over curriculum and they don't like the "gobamint" telling them what to do. Especially when said government is led by a person of color.

[femmocrat]

7. I distrust the over-emphasis on math and reading.

It also includes science and social studies now, I think. To me, that means that if a subject is not tested, it does not matter. Forget music, art, P.E., etc. We only teach to the test because that is where the money goes and comes from!

Then, districts can evaluate every teacher based on test scores, even if the teacher does not teach that subject. It's just another way to harass teachers.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Because Obama

That's it. Anything that happens between 2008 and 2016, they'll be against, unless we have to bomb some other people.

[earthside]

6. Why do progressives hate Common Core?

Common Core is a corporate initiative.
Common Core further disempowers teachers in their own classroom.
Common Core empowers bureaucrats and administrators.
Common Core promotes rote 'learning'.
Common Core means even more high stakes standardized testing.
Common Core diverts scarce education funding into data collection and analysis, away from the classroom.
Common Core will turn even more schools in low-income areas into 'failures'.
Common Core is a stalking horse for more corporately-managed charter schools.

Just because elements of the right-wing are against Common Core for their own reasons, does not mean that liberals need to be reactionary and therefore defend this very bad policy.

Ultimately, Common Core is bad for kids, bad for teachers and destructive of the traditional concept of public education.

[woo me with science]

8. Thank you.

[femmocrat]

9. Excellent answer! nt

[Oilwellian]

10. Indeed

The corporate Third Way propaganda on this site is getting so thick, I can hardly breath now.

[CoffeeCat]

21. I hope you aren't referring to me...

…as propagating corporate propaganda.

My biggest issue is corporate corruption and how it has diseased our politicians and perverted our democracy.

I am embarrassed to say that I am learning about Common Core and I am ignorant. I happened to see this email circulated about the math problem. I saw that conservatives were attempting to "trick" people into hating Common Core and I wondered if they had some other agenda that was bull.

However, as others have stated--There may be many reasons to dislike Common Core. I am reading and learning now that this may be part of the corporate agenda to standardize learning and pilfer the creativity, logic and free thinking out of kids and the curriculum. If so, that's dastardly.

Again, I am still learning--which is why I posted the OP.

I can't imagine what will happen to this country, if profiteers get their mitts on our kids. Not only will learning be relegated to memorizing facts--they will be propagandized. Believe me, I've seen plenty of reason for concern now. My daughter brought home a study packet about GMOs. The kids had to do an experiment--plant a GMO corn seed and a non-GMO corn seed. The non-GMO plant died and this experiment was used to demonstrate the glory of GMOs and also how non-GMO plants were inferior--and could cause starvation! At the bottom of the packet, on every page was "Copyright Pioneer/HiBred."

So, GMO-growing, big-Ag is now writing curricula for our kids? I called a local Progressive talk-show host and he discussed it. This is NOT right. I spent a great deal of time pulling up Web resources and studying with my daughter, to show her what the truth was. She was only in 7th grade.

[LisaLynne]

11. Yep, great answer.

I think this was a time when some of the rank and file conservatives missed the memo that this was something they were supposed to be FOR!

[TBF]

13. Agreed. nt

[sendero]

14. Looks like everyone is against it..

... I certainly am.

And I have a totally radical belief about education. Teachers can make a small difference but the REAL reason kids leave high school without knowing how read and do basic math is because they don't give a shit about learning it.

And teachers and curiculums have only a limited sway over that.

[Initech]

16. Every teacher I know *hates* Common Core with a firey passion.

And most of the teachers I know are liberals at that. The biggest claim is that it's a complete bureaucratic nightmare and hinders kids' ability to think for themselves.

[LWolf]

18. This. nt

[CoffeeCat]

19. That is a good point...

I'm all for learning about Common Core, and that it's possibly a bad idea for many reasons.

I am concerned that the Republicans are attempting to dupe people into hating/fearing it--with this circulated email with the math problem.

The math problem can be understood and the processes used to solve the problem--are easily understandable with 15 seconds of reading about the math.

I get suspicious when they lie and use Fox News/talk radio tactics to get the minions on board.

However, I do get that this may be part of the corporate agenda to privatize schools and for loads of profiteers to exploit our schools for their own gain. Plenty of Dems and Republicans guilty of that kind of corruption.

Again, thanks for that point.

[1StrongBlackMan]

12. Funny ...

when I saw the "conservative-driven Common Core math problem", I, too, was saying "What!"

But when I saw the explanation in the other link, it made perfect sense. And I'm assuming that every child subjected to CC, will get more depth instruction than the 1 paragraph explanation that allowed me to figure it out.

I suspect the right's problem with CC is ... it runs contrary to the right's general "educational philosophy", i.e., teaching WHAT to think; not HOW to think.

[KamaAina]

15. Why do teachers hate Common Core?

[Autumn]

20. I'm not a conservative and I don't like it.

The teachers I know that are liberals don't like it.

[conservaphobe]

22. Because it's a top-notch solution to a complex problem.

They always hate those.

[xchrom]

23. fuck conservatives. plenty of Leftists hate common core. nt