Michelle Rhee, Jeb Bush warn Michigan legislators against abandoning Common Core standards
Source: MLive.com
As keynote speakers Michelle Rhee and Jeb Bush endorsed the National Common Core State Standards for education at this week's Mackinac Policy Conference, Gov. Rick Snyder called the controversy over the standards "something we need to work through."
Rhee, the former chancellor of District of Columbia schools and head of the StudentsFirst advocacy group, told attendees in her address Thursday that opponents should set aside concerns about the standards for the good of students.
"The vast majority of states have adopted the standards. I've heard some recent rumblings from folks who say we don't like it when the federal government is telling us what to do. We don't like that. You know what you should not like? The fact that China is kicking our butts right now," Rhee told attendees. "Get over feeling bad about the federal government and feel bad that our kids are not competing."
Wednesday's keynote speaker, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, struck a similar tone, imploring lawmakers not to abandon the guidelines. "These standards, the Common Core standards, are clear and straightforward. They will allow for more innovation in the classroom, less regulation, they'll equip students to compete with their peers from across the globe," Bush said. "Do not pull back. Please do not pull back on Common Core standards."
Read more: http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/05/national_education_leaders_war.html
The Detroit Free Press reported on Bush's Wednesday keynote speech at this conference: "Jeb Bush: 'We embrace school choice across the board'":
“We must give parents a choice on where they send their kids to school,” Bush said. “We embrace school choice across the board.”
He also praised Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder for appointing an emergency manager for Detroit, calling the city “a looming fiscal calamity” that makes it hard for businesses to move to the city.
He heralded Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker for taking on unions, and Snyder for signing right-to-work laws last year that dealt a serious blow to organized labor.
If he does throw in his hat for 2016, be prepared: the Snyder/Walker agenda that's poisoned two neighboring Great Lakes states will go national.
SourceWatch's article about the Mackinac Center: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mackinac_Center_for_Public_Policy
= new reply since forum marked as read
... those are the dangerous key words from these two American Democracy haters and money grubbers. I call it the "hit-or-miss" form of education. They don't give a shit about the children's education or the people of Detroit. They are interested only in their own and their 1% buddie's bottom lines. Hell, isn't one of Jeb's little brothers (Paul) raking in money for all those tests the kids have developed a test-taking phobia from? GWs NCLB testing program? Arne Duncan's race to the bottom program?
Remember, guys, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a conservative think tank in MI founded in 1987. Strong ties to ALEC. Dig down deep enough and they probably get a majority of their funding from Charles and David Koch, personally. We know that they run those right wing think tanks in Wisconsin.
A pox on Rhee, Jeb, the Koch brothers, Walker, Snyder, ALEC...the whole frickin lot of them! 
I do remember that now. What did I call him? Paul? I hate my age. 
(Not really.)
... from the front lines. And welcome to DU! 
Our so-called "Democrats" are interested in nothing more than finding the "bipartisan middle" with the fascists. Everything is on their terms, always. Ugh. 
She has no credibility as an educator and her 'program' is all about co-modifying and corpratizing education to extract as much public money as possible for her 1% friends.
Disgusting.
