WILL POLITICIANS EVER LISTEN?
by Melanie Kurdys, Co-Founder Stop Common Core in Michigan
Six years ago, half the life of a K-12 experience, Michigan’s elected leaders made the decision to implement Common Core. They decided this because they were listening to the “education experts” and business interests, not the parents, grandparents and concerned citizens. Even though the experts could not provide evidence that the change would work, would be better for students, they prevailed. But now, several years later, the parents, grandparents and concerned citizens are being joined by more and more teachers in their call to repeal Common Core. As the facts about Common Core become clearer through implementation, the evidence that they are NOT better for students has become clearer as well.
This situation is actually similar to the Flint water crisis. The experts recommended the water source be changed to save money. As far as we can tell, they provided no evidence that the change would be beneficial to the citizens of Flint. After the change was implemented, citizens began reporting problems with their water, yet the experts insisted the water was fine. Michigan leadership relied on the experts and refused to hear the pleas of the citizens.
Now we are in the midst of a crisis; a very expensive clean up and recovery as well as untold physical damage to our children’s health and their future. The good news is the solution to education is in Repeal & Replace Common Core legislation and this is not just bottled water, not just a band-aid. It is a wholesale systemic change that puts us on the right track in education. It is realistic and doable. Our leaders have a chance to prevent another crisis. Governor Snyder and Michigan legislators have the chance to prevent the loss of a generation of Michigan citizens poorly educated due to an unproven education experiment. We are counting on them to learn from their mistakes, to see the evidence, to listen to Michigan citizens, and to hear the truth.