Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Thoughts on the Executive Order (Updated)

I haven't kept up with the Common Core debate. Too much on my plate to take on another serious topic right now. However, the Governor's Executive Order yesterday got my attention to I thought I would read through it and make some remarks.


Gov. Phil Bryant today issued an Executive Order affirming Mississippi’s right and responsibility to define and implement its own public school standards and curricula. The Executive Order also makes clear that, under state law, this core function of state government cannot be ceded to the federal government.

Um, was this ever in dispute?  Was there some federal takeover of our educational system recently that I missed?  Did the federal government try to implement standards (that were NOT conditioned on the receipt of federal funds)?


“There is serious public concern about the reach of the federal government into state public education policy, and this order makes very clear that Mississippi and its local school districts and not the federal government are vested with the authority to define and implement public education standards,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. “Our classrooms will not become delivery vehicles for bureaucratic federal mandates. We have made tremendous progress in enacting improvements in our public education system, and we will continue pursuing what works for Mississippi children.”

Oh, really Governor? Ever heard of IDEA law?  ADA? The federal government imposing standards on public schools take place all the time. There are limits to federal intervention but within those limits, the state can do nothing about federal power.   Then there is the matter of federal funds.  Don't want to follow federal standards, then don't take federal money. Period.  Have you issued an executive order telling the state not to accept federal education dollars? Didn't think so.If the state didn't take federal money, then it would really have to fund education. 



The order comes as Mississippi prepares to implement Common Core State Standards, a set of English Language Arts and Mathematics standards that have been adopted by more than 40 states. Common Core was adopted by the Mississippi Department of Education in 2010.

Ah, Common Core.  The devil finally shows itself.  Now we are finally talking about Common Core.  What exactly does the Governor say about Common Core in his press release?

The order affirms that:
-the state and its local public school districts, ot the federal government, shall determine public school standards and curricula.
-the state and not the federal government shall select statewide assessments, and local school districts may implement additional assessments to monitor academic progress.
-no federal law or grant currently purports to mandate the adoption of any uniform, nationwide academic standards, curricula, or assessments.
-the state is under no obligation to comply with any future federal mandates for uniform academic standards, curricula or assessments.
-the collection of test data and other student information pertaining to academic performance shall comply with all laws that protect student and family privacy.
-the constitutional rights of Mississippi school children and their families will not be violated as result of federal education decisions.
-that, in accordance with applicable law, homeschool students are not bound by K-12 academic standards set by the Mississippi Department of Education.

Nothing. Not a word.  Just more gibberish about the state not allowing the feds to set standards in our schools.  Ooook.  He does say something about the Mississippi Department of Education adopting Common Core in 2010.  Hmmmm..... now that is interesting.  The state adopted Common Core.  The feds didn't mandate the state accept Common Core.  The state chose to do it.  Did he take MDE to task for doing so? Did he try to issue an executive order a la Mike Chaney ordering  MDE to review Common Core? Did he ask the Speaker or Lieutenant Governor to hold hearings on Common Core?  Did he axt MDE to review and reconsider its decision to implement Common Core?

No?  So what exactly does this press release and executive order mean in regards to the implementation of Common Core in Mississippi? NOTHING.  Or as Hardin said in Foundation:

"All right." Hardin replaced the sheets. "Before you now you see a copy of the treaty between the Empire and Anacreon a treaty, incidentally, which is signed on the Emperor's behalf by the same Lord Dorwin who was here last week and with it a symbolic analysis."

The treaty ran through five pages of fine print and the analysis was scrawled out in just under half a page.

"As you see, gentlemen, something like ninety percent of the treaty boiled right out of the analysis as being meaningless, and what we end up with can be described in the following interesting manner:

"Obligations of Anacreon to the Empire: None!

"Powers of the Empire over Anacreon: None!"

Or better yet:

The analysis was the most difficult of the three by all odds. When Holk, after two days of steady work, succeeded in eliminating meaningless statements, vague gibberish, useless qualifications in short, all the goo and dribble he found he had nothing left. Everything canceled out."

"Lord Dorwin, gentlemen, in five days of discussion didn't say one damned thing, and said it so you never noticed. There are the assurances you had from your precious Empire."

However, such facts didn't deter other conservatives in Mississippi from slapping the Governor on the back and thanking him for a job well done on Facebook and Twitter. Not one of them held the Governor accountable for what he said- which was nothing. Nope, it was all spin to them, concrete action or statements be damned.  Read what JJ reported on November 16:

The Commercial Appeal reported last July:

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant also remains a solid supporter, spokesman Mick Bullock said.
“I am not familiar with these particular claims but Gov. Bryant supports higher standards for our students and is closely monitoring these College and Career Readiness Standards in making sure they are in line with Mississippi’s educational values,” Bullock wrote in an e-mail.

and the Governor stated in his 2014 budget recommendation a year ago:

"This literacy effort will dovetail with the implementation of Common Core Standards, helping to o ensure that our teachers and our students are well-prepared to grown and improve. (p. 13)
 To quote Hardin again:

"Lord Dorwin, gentlemen, in five days of discussion didn't say one damned thing, and said it so you never noticed. There are the assurances you had from your precious Empire."

What is the definition of a dupe?

Kingfish update: Just had a thought. WHAT is stopping the Governor from establishing a Common Core Study Commission? Similar to Haley's PERS Study Commission.  Come on Governor, put up or shut up. 

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are dead on. This ass clown is the functional equivalent of Ed Orgeron. Rah Rah Rah Rah "State's Rights." And for some reason, there are a bunch of baffoons that run out and say "ah, Phil, he's one of us." I suppose trying to force companies to do business with one another didn't work out, so he needed to strike the right populist tone.

Anonymous said...

Darth Vader, I mean Haley Barbour, amassed so much power in his own office it was bound to leave a vacuum. We sent Gomer Pyle to try and fill it...and its a disaster.

Brian said...

Does Common Core require the reading of Isaac Asimov? If so, that would be a plus in my mind.

Anonymous said...

Like I said before, another Phildo Ejaculation. Not just another simplistic insult but a brief commentary based on the total lack of logic and thought behind the Governor's many contradictory and nonsensical proclamations and statements.

Fingernails On The Blackboard said...

Regardless of what Phil does or doesn't do, Common Core = Federal Educational Guidelines, now and forever. If you buy into that idea, I just don't know what to say.

There was recently broad internet coverage of a school district up north that, under the banner of Common Core, sent a questionnaire home with children. The questionnaire which thousands refused to fill out and return asked all manner of questions to identify which families were liberal, which had conservative principles, which favored more government, which less, which didn't care, which considered themselves democrats.

Common Core is nothing more than gathering and tabulating data. Has nothing to do with education. Good for Phil if he's resisting that.

Are the three posts above mine from Tom Head?

Bill Dees said...

What's next from Doofus Bryant? An executive order commanding the Earth to orbit the Sun? Or commanding that gravitational force be proportional to the mass of an object? Or that for every action there be an equal but opposite reaction? Bryant is channeling Macbeth, when, in Act V, he says that life us full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. So goes his executive order.

Anonymous said...

Dees, please check the gravitational force on the moon

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZEGijN_8R0

The Libertarian said...

Why, pray tell, are any of you supporting Common(unist) Core?

Anonymous said...

What, pray tell, does Phil's executive order actually do to impact Common Core?

Nothing. I hope you are at least savvy enough to realize when you are being manipulated by a bunch of BS. He's counting on you to keep those blinders on and keep pulling that voting lever.

Please, somebody decent run against this guy.

Anonymous said...

2:15, come on, really?? Communist?? You guys never fail to amuse. Bryant didn't even do away with it, he just said he wasn't going to let Uncle Sam tell us fine folk down here what to do. Common Core will be as present in January as it was before Christmas break but you guys can now go post on facebook you won something. You won nothing, go back to work silly.

Anonymous said...

Dees, please check the gravitational force on the moon

The Chinese rover is checking it now...they'll report in.

Anonymous said...

Why does Tate Reeves support Common Core?

The Libertarian said...

I understand all Bryant did was tell the Feds to get bent (doesn't stop Common Core if that's what the state wants) and I understand he's pandering..but what I'm seeing in this and the last post on this (mainly the first post) is people supporting Common Core.

Anonymous said...

Love the Asimov quotes! I gave my nephew the original Foundation trilogy for Christmas last year ... guess I should inquire whether he read it.

Anonymous said...

“Common Core means federal control of school curriculum, i.e., control by Obama administration left-wing bureaucrats. The control mechanism is the tests (called assessments). Kids must pass the tests in order to get a high school diploma or admittance to college. If they haven’t studied a curriculum based on Common Core standards, they won’t score well on the tests.” Phyllis Schlafly of The Eagle Forum

kim wade said...

Yep, noticed the bs in your article. But you did admit to not following the story/issue...

Anonymous said...


The Washington Post has some instructive Common Core analysis. A January 29 article includes the following quotes:



"Recent critiques of the Common Core Standards... have noted that the process for creating the new K-12 standards involved too little research, public dialogue, or input from educators. Nowhere was this more startlingly true than in the case of the early childhood standards—those imposed on kindergarten through grade 3. ... It appears that early childhood teachers and child development experts were excluded from the K-3 standards-writing process."

"When the standards were first revealed in March 2010, many early childhood educators and researchers were shocked. The people who wrote these standards do not appear to have any background in child development or early childhood education. The promoters of the standards claim they are based in research. They are not. Moreover, the Common Core Standards do not provide for ongoing research or review of the outcomes of their adoption."

"Take a look at the summary of “public feedback” posted on the Core Standards website. It is grossly misleading... Reading this summary, one gets the clear impression that the reactions to the standards were overwhelmingly positive....[but] the authors of the summary.....don’t even mention a critically important statement opposing the K-3 standards, signed by more than 500 early childhood professionals."

"Why were early childhood professionals excluded from the Common Core Standards project? Why were the grave doubts of our most knowledgeable education and health experts missing from the official record of this undertaking? Would including them have forced the people driving this juggernaut to face serious criticism and questions about the legitimacy of the entire project?"

"The Common Core Standards are now the law in 46 states. But it’s not too late to unearth the facts about how and why they were created, and to raise an alarm about the threat they represent."

"The stakes are enormous."



Please read the full Washington Post article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/01/29/a-tough-critique-of-common-core-on-early-childhood-education/

Anonymous said...

If we continue to have more federal education initiatives and more of their money but have little to show for it --we need to do as our ancient state constitution says and let the county be responsible for the education, health, and welfare of its citizens. Then the Bourbon state government can act as the overseer.

The Governor really wants to re-write the state constitution, decline the federal money, and take away the authority of the bubbling county and school district administrators. Bryant wants to start an education revolution. Give the local administrative jobs to a leading classroom teacher who answers to the State of Mississippi. The school tax should go to the state treasury and the locals can seat as an advisory panel for schools in their neighborhoods. Just make it simple. Cut out the local education lawyers, Washington grant writers, consultants, local patronage, and other hangers on.

Anonymous said...

"thusbloggedanderson"
First ask him if he can read!

Kingfish said...

What exactly is the BS? Me? The Governor? Please clarify.

Anonymous said...

It seems the US Supreme Court has enshrined federalism for the healthcare system and given the states the option to do something to rationalize healthcare for themselves. We have no such deal of the federal involvement in education. Like a state healthcare plan, we need to see some details on this education initiative of the Governor. He needs to close a couple of our state supported colleges to start with and merge the junior college and higher ed administrations. He could join the upper grades with the college and separate the lower and child development ages into a new bureau.

Anonymous said...

" The Emperor has no clothes!"

Anonymous said...

Common Core

Wright said one hot topic she's discussed across the state is Common Core. Monday, Gov. Phil Bryant issued an executive order asserting that Mississippi will maintain its right to control its public school after some people have made claims that Common Core Standards are a federal takeover of education.

"We're in no different place today than we were before the governor's order," Wright said. "The governor has just reiterated his commitment to high standards for college and career readiness. That's where we're headed."

Wright, who had previously served as the chief academic officer for the District of Columbia Public Schools and director of special education and student services in Maryland's Howard County Public Schools, said she is a major supporter of Common Core.

"I'm a huge advocate of Common Core State Standards. I've been involved with the implementation since it started," Wright said. "I believe it has the ability to raise the level of rigor across the state and provide a consistent and high set of expectations."

Wright added that she's aware of the backlash the standards have been getting lately from some legislators and parents who oppose them, and she wants everyone in the state to be informed of what the standards really are.

"It's just a set of very high standards, it's not a curriculum," Wright said. "We're trying to set high standards, and how districts get there is a local decision, and we need to make sure teachers are getting the right support they need. It's my job to make sure that's happening."

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2013/12/17/5202503/state-superintendent-has-high.html#storylink=cpy

Anonymous said...

Ms. Wright should understand that "standard" is something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example for a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered merely acceptable.

It is indeed a curriculum as it defines the "knowledge and skills students should have", that are "evidence-based", "builds upon strengths and lessons of current state standards", "are informed by other top performing countries", and "include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills."
http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards

You are not trying to set "high" standards. You are trying to assimilate education into a single homogenous stream in order to justify the bureaucracy of education.

Independent, private schools are able to educate children and properly prepare them for college without the need for such "standards" and without the need for such bureaucracy. They independently educate based on the need of simply educating a child, not scary notions of needing to be like other countries for a "global economy".

In that light, local school districts and local schools should be able to educate without the overwhelming influence from federal bureaucracy.

Anonymous said...

"First ask him if he can read!"

?? - He's my nephew by marriage not blood, so no Democrat taint has affected his DNA or IQ. He is in fact extremely bright and tearing up St. Andrew's. But thanks for your concern.

Anonymous said...

Earlier this week, the South Carolina GOP unanimously adopted a resolution that reads in part:

WHEREAS, adoption of Common Core obliterates South Carolina's constitutional autonomy over education in English language arts and mathematics, placing control in the hand of the federal government and unaccountable private interests in Washington, DC; and

WHEREAS, the Common Core standards will inevitably lead to a national curriculum, in violation of three federal statutes; and

WHEREAS, the Common Core scheme will be expanded to include national standards and curriculum in science, social studies, and other subjects; and

WHEREAS, neither the Common Core standards nor the SMARTER Balanced (SBAC) assessments were ever piloted to determine their effectiveness; and

WHEREAS, both the Common Core standards and the SBAC tests will impose an enormous unfunded mandate on our state and our local school districts; and

WHEREAS, the Common Core is part of a national scheme that includes collection and sharing of massive amounts of personal student and teacher data.

THEREFORE, the South Carolina Republican Party hereby resolves that our state leaders should:

Withdraw our state from the Common Core State Standards Initiative;

Withdraw our state from the SBAC assessment scheme, and any other testing aligned with the Common Core standards;

Prohibit all state officials from entering into any agreement that cedes any measure of control over South Carolina education to entities outside the state and ensure that all content standards and curriculum decisions are adopted through a transparent state-wide process fully accountable to the citizens of South Carolina; and

Prohibit the collection of personal student data for any non-education purpose, and the sharing of personal data except with schools or education agencies with the state.

Anonymous said...

Now this is how you pull out of Common core: “Florida's Gov. Rick Scott Says 'No' to Common Core Testing”
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/09/23/Florida-s-Gov-Rick-Scott-Says-No-To-Common-Core-Testing

The coverage on Common Core is incredible.

At http://www.breitbart.com, here’s just a few of the articles:
“Common Core Obama's Means to 'Fundamentally Transform' America's Education System”
“Common Core Roots Lie in Ties Between Barack Obama, Bill Ayers”
“What Parents Should Know About 'Common Core' Education Standards”
“Common Core Teaching Gettysburg Address Without Teaching Civil War”
“Blue States Turning on Controversial 'Common Core' School Standards”
“'Common Core' Math: Wrong Answers Acceptable”
“Common Core Uses SEIU Protest To Teach 3rd Graders About 'Rights and Responsibilities'”
“Children's Privacy at Risk with Common Core Curriculum Standards”
“Huckabee Abandons Common Core, Eyes 2016 Presidential Bid”
“Teachers Complain Common Core Makes Them 'Robots,' 'Machines'”
“Advocates Try To Prop Up Common Core Standards As New States Mull Pull-Out”
“NYC Principals Pull Sexually Explicit Novel from Common Core Curriculum”
“AZ School District Pulls Sexually Explicit Book Recommended by Common Core Standards”
“Test Scores Plummet After New York Adopts Common Core Standards”
“New York Times' Keller Tries, Fails to Defend Common Core”
… the Obama administration attempted to lure states into embracing the Common Core standards by suggesting that if they did not adopt them, they might not be eligible for future Title I funding for their low-income schools. This is an overreach of the federal government into an area that has historically been reserved for the states.

The Common Core: A Poor Choice for States (PDF
http://heartland.org/sites/default/files/05-15-13_common_core_revised_policy_brief_version.pdf

Want to See What CSCOPE and Common Core (Even Homeschooling) Lessons Look Like? These Parents Opened Up to TheBlaze
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/02/want-to-see-what-cscope-and-common-core-even-homeschooling-lessons-look-like-these-parents-opened-up-to-theblaze/

‘Dictatorship 101′: Beck’s Chilling Break-Down of What Parent Arrested After Questioning Common Core Means for America
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/02/want-to-see-what-cscope-and-common-core-even-homeschooling-lessons-look-like-these-parents-opened-up-to-theblaze/

The whole story on Common Core
http://www.glennbeck.com/2013/04/08/the-whole-story-on-common-core/

Common Core Book Teaches Children White Voters Rejected Obama Because of Race
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/11/outrageous-common-core-book-teaches-children-white-voters-rejected-obama-because-of-race/

(continued)

Anonymous said...

(continued)

Common Core Writing Assignment: Think Like a Nazi and Explain Why Jews Are Evil
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/12/common-core-writing-assignment-think-like-a-nazi-and-explain-why-jews-are-evil-video/

Common Core Third Grade Book Presents Messianic View of Obama
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/11/common-core-third-grade-book-presents-messianic-view-of-obama/

It Begins… Communist Indoctrination Included in Common Core Literature for First Graders
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/05/it-begins-communist-indoctrination-included-in-common-core-literature-for-first-graders-video/

Coming to a School Near You: Common Core Approved Child Pornography
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/08/coming-to-a-school-near-you-common-core-approved-child-pornography/

Former Department of Education Officials: Obama is Illegally Forcing Federal ‘Common Core’ Education Standards On the States
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/02/former-department-of-education-officials-obama-is-illegally-forcing-federal-common-core-education-standards-on-the-states/

More Common Core Indoctrination: “The People Must Obey The Government’s Commands”
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/10/31/more-common-core-indoctrination-the-people-must-obey-the-governments-commands/

Common Core: Arkansas Sixth-Graders Asked To “Prune” Bill of Rights From “Outdated” Constitution…
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/10/07/common-core-arkansas-sixth-graders-asked-to-prune-bill-of-rights-from-outdated-constitution/

Common Core Sneaks Liberal Politics Into Elementary School Classrooms…
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/11/06/common-core-sneaks-liberal-politics-into-elementary-school-classrooms/

New Common Core Lesson Teaches Fourth Graders American Society Designed To Benefit White People…
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/10/17/new-common-core-lesson-teaches-fourth-graders-american-society-designed-to-benefit-white-people/
Common Core Conference Handing Out Material On White Privilege
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/11/03/common-core/

“Don’t Tell Your Parents” 6th Grade Assignment at Milan Elementary, MS
http://freepatriot.org/2013/11/23/dont-tell-your-parents-6th-grade-assignment-at-milan-elementary-ms/

“Is This America”? Father Arrested For Speaking Out Against Common Core At Public Meeting
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/09/21/is-this-america-father-arrested-for-speaking-out-against-common-core-at-public-meeting/

Louisiana Fourth-Graders Taught About “Pimps” And “Mobstaz,” School Says It’s Age Appropriate Based On Common Core Standards…
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/09/19/louisiana-fourth-graders-taught-about-pimps-and-mobstaz-school-says-its-age-appropriate-based-on-common-core-standards/

Anonymous said...

Such a warm and heartening message from our fearless leader during this holiday season. It's what we've come to expect from such a learned man.

Now, families with children can rest easy knowing that the state and the governor are fully in control of the Mississippi K-12 school system. Fully and completely in control. As he states in his press release. Such a courageous and strong leader.

So will Phil be the one we can blame when we're again ranked 50th in education? Or will he claim that he is a victim of the dastardly feds, a victim of the overreaching federal government, powerless to stop their encroachment?

Someone in his inner circle better tell him you can't have it both ways; oh, sorry, I forgot; they all believe you can fool all of the people all of the time. Especially in Mississippi.

What's that definition of insanity again? "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Cue the Peter, Paul and Mary record on the turntable:
"When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?"

Anonymous said...

If anyone wonders whether the link-dumper above is worth attending to, the answer seems to be no.

The "Common Core child porn" link announces that Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" could possibly be assigned to some high-school juniors and seniors.

Yawn. Wake me up when Morrison and the people selling her book are doing 25-to-life in the federal pen.

Anonymous said...

@ December 18, 2013 at 2:18 PM
"The Bluest Eye" is in the top 10 list of most contested books in the country

The author of the book says that she wanted the reader to feel as though they are a “co-conspirator” with the rapist. She describes the pedophilia, rape and incest “friendly,” “innocent,” and “tender.”

But since there’s no problem with that book being read out loud in class by kids in school, lets just see what’s inside of the book—let the blog readers decide for themselves.

Pages 84-85: “He must enter her surreptitiously, lifting the hem of her nightgown only to her navel. He must rest his weight on his elbows when they make love, to avoid hurting her breasts…When she senses some spasm about to grip him, she will make rapid movements with her hips, press her fingernails into his back, suck in her breath, and pretend she is having an orgasm. She might wonder again, for the six hundredth time, what it would be like to have that feeling while her husband’s penis is inside her.”

Pages 130-131: “Then he will lean his head down and bite my t** . . . I want him to put his hand between my legs, I want him to open them for me. . . I stretch my legs open, and he is on top of me…He would die rather than take his thing out of me. Of me. I take my fingers out of his and put my hands on his behind…”

Pages 148-149: “With a violence born of total helplessness, he pulled her dress up, lowered his trousers and underwear. ‘I said get on wid it. An’make it good, n*****, Come on c***. Faster. You ain’t doing nothing for her.’ He almost wished he could do it—hard, long, and painfully, he hated her so much.”

Pages 162-163: “A bolt of desire ran down his genitals…and softening the lips of his anus. . . . He wanted to f*** her—tenderly. But the tenderness would not hold. The tightness of her vagina was more than he could bear. His soul seemed to slip down his guts and fly out into her, and the gigantic thrust he made into her then provoked the only sound she made. Removing himself from her was so painful to him he cut it short and snatched his genitals out of the dry harbor of her vagina. She appeared to have fainted.”

Page 174: “He further limited his interests to little girls. They were usually manageable . . . His sexuality was anything but lewd; his patronage of little girls smacked of innocence and was associated in his mind with cleanliness.” And later, this same pedophile notes, “I work only through the Lord. He sometimes uses me to help people.”

Page 181: “The little girls are the only things I’ll miss. Do you know that when I touched their sturdy little t*** and bit them—just a little—I felt I was being friendly?—If I’d been hurting them, would they have come back? . . . they’d eat ice cream with their legs open while I played with them. It was like a party.”

Anonymous said...

Must've been tricky, cutting and pasting all that with only one hand.

Anonymous said...

Florida's Governor Rick Scott has rejected Common Core for the State of Florida. In a letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (see the full letter at http://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/SecretaryDuncan092313.pdf), Gov. Scott states in part:


"Any state that adopts this national standard willingly cedes a portion of its educational authority; shifting authority and control from the state to this national scheme. And what does the state get in return?"

"Common Core proponents argue the benefit is increased educational standards and the expectation of improved student achievement. When I looked into this claim I found it lacking. In fact, after thoroughly analyzing the standards contained in Common Core it is clear to me that Florida gives up much more than it gains by adopting these national standards."

"Because Florida’s Sunshine State Standards for education already nearly meet or exceed those proposed in Common Core I see no benefit to inviting more Washington involvement in the education of our kids. Given Washington’s track record, our children are better off without them."

Anonymous said...

Interesting comments since none of them address what the standards are.
I would be more impressed with Governor Scott's statement if Florida exceeded all the basic minimum standards in Common Core.
The criticisms of the standards like the one cited above are that they are too low , not that they are too high.
The problem we have in education nationwide is that the States haven't delivered a good enough education for us to compete well with other countries.
There is clearly the assumption that Common Core is about teaching something that threatens some of you. You might read it before jumping to that assumption.
The percentage of Mississippi students that go to college is horrible. The percentage that graduate is worse. That they are unprepared to compete in college is something that should worry all of you.
And, when you select a private school, they will give you the stats for college acceptance of their students and the colleges, but you should ask for the percentage that graduate and for the percentage that go on to get advanced degrees.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

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Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
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