Anti-Common Core

Two Principals Share Opposing Views on Common Core Standards

/ Ogo Okoye-johnson / 4 Comments

Common Core Standards have generated intense debates and controversies among politicians, educators, parents of current students, and community members. It is important, therefore, that the voices of those responsible for implementing the Common Core Standards are heard. The Hechinger Report, invited two principals, Carol Burris and Jayne Ellspermann, with differing views on Common Core Standards to converse through letters their opinions and experiences with the implementation of the Common Core Standards.

Carol Burris, New York’s principal of South Side High School in the Rockville Centre School District and the 2013 New York State High School Principal of the Year used to be in support of Common Core Standards but is now an opponent of the Standards. Jayne Ellspermann, principal of West Port High School in Ocala, Florida and the 2015 Principal of the Year for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, is an advocate for the Standards.

Valerie Strauss who covers education and the Answer Sheet Blog for the Washington Post reported on March 4th, 2015 the second letter in the series written by Jayne Ellspermann in response to Carol Burris who wrote the first letter.

Mississippi Elected Officials Reject Common Core Standards

/ Ogo Okoye-johnson / 4 Comments

Heather Kays a research fellow of The Heartland Institute and the managing editor of School Reform News, a national monthly publication reported in the Heartlander on December 31, 2014 on the growing anti-Common Core standards movement in Mississippi. Many Mississippians and Senator Angela Hill (R-District 40, Marion, Pearl River, Walthall) are happy that Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves indicated their disapproval of the Common Core K-12 math and language standards. Senator Hill who has been working on repealing the Common Core standards stated to School Reform News, “I’m encouraged by the actions and the words of the governor and lieutenant governor. I’m ready to work with the lieutenant governor to establish higher standards than Common Core and higher standards than Mississippi has ever had.”