Opt Out Of Common Core, Into Homeschooling

[apokalypse]

Former presidential candidate and Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul is telling parents to ditch Common Core, and try out his vision of homeschooling instead.

In his essay written for Campaign for Liberty, Paul derides Common Core as a “curriculum developed by federal bureaucrats and education ‘experts.’” He complains that the new standards replace conventional math with “reform math” and classical works of literature with “‘informational’ texts, such as studies by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.”

“Those poor kids!” Paul laments.

“The devil with Common Core lies not in its details but in its underlying principle,” Paul says in the piece. “The idea that government ‘experts’ can centrally plan a nation’s educational system is just as flawed as the idea that government can centrally plan the economy.”

The description of Common Core as a centrally directed national curriculum is one that rankles supporters, including some on the right. The conservative Fordham Institute, for instance, has worked hard to emphasize that Common Core’s standards are not the same as a curriculum, and that its national scope was created through the collaboration by state governments rather than by Department of Education bureaucrats.

That defense has not been enough for many, though, including Paul, who praises Oklahoma for moving to “protect” the state’s children by abandoning Common Core. Last month, Paul said in an interview that Common Core was the “last straw” for many people regarding public education.

As an alternative to Common Core, Paul promotes his own curriculum, fittingly titled the Ron Paul Curriculum. The Ron Paul Curriculum, launched last fall, is designed to be used by homeschoolers, and takes a unique approach to education that reflects Paul’s libertarian-leaning political values.

The Curriculum includes lessons on Austrian economics and libertarian political theory, and teaches students how to start their own business on the Internet. It almost totally eschews social studies until students are at the high school level, taking the view that early childhood social studies education mostly promotes statism. The Curriculum also reflects a Christian worldview, with early history education putting significant focus on the Book of Genesis, Biblical Israel and the Reformation.

Paul’s program is also designed to be relatively cheap, as it uses no textbooks and is mostly self-taught, meaning there is little need for costly teachers. High school learning builds up to students taking College Level Examination Program exams that can provide students with college credit, thereby allowing them to graduate earlier and at a lower cost.

The program is free for kindergarten through fifth grade materials, but accessing later materials costs $250 per year plus $50 per individual course. In an effort to attract more participants, Paul is offering a special online summer school program where parents can buy in for three months for just $25.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2014/06/23/ron-paul-opt-out-of-common-core-into-homeschooling/#ixzz35ePdlisd


anyone please care to explain what's Common Core is about and why such negativity about it...

[scanner]

This article doesn't explain Common Core , but it tells you what will happen if your home schooled . http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/fortune-500-company-tells-homeschool-grads-take-hike


Fortune 500 Company Tells Homeschool Grads To Take A Hike
Want to work? Comply with Common Core.
6.15.2014
News
Caleb Howe

148
Fortune 500 Company Tells Homeschool Grads To Take A Hike

Indiana-based energy company NiSource has taken a big step in discriminatory hiring practices. It was reported earlier this year that a man who had been offered a job with the company had that offer rescinded when it was discovered he was a homeschool graduate. Since that story was reported, NiSource has doubled down on their position, telling the Home School Legal Defense Association that their policy is "firm". They will not be considering homeschool education a valid form of education, and will not hire graduates relying on homeschool diplomas.

The original story, first reported in May of this year, involved a man who had been offered a job with the company. He had years of relevant job experience. He had college courses in the relevant field and made the dean's list at a recognized state college. He had appropriate technical certifications. A seemingly ideal candidate, the man was offered a position, but later had the offer withdrawn after the company stated that they did not recognize his homeschool diploma as a legitimate high school diploma. The HSLDA disputes their assertion, and states that they have successfully resolved such questions in the past.

"Although we are usually able to resolve problems related to homeschool diplomas with employers and higher education officials, many human resources or admissions officials misunderstand Ohio law which recognizes homeschooling as a legal and valid form of education."

Nevertheless, not only has NiSource stood by their original decision, they have expanded on their decision as being a company-wide policy.

In a phone interview, HSLDA attorney Mike Donnelly shared the details of their dispute and correspondence with NiSource. Donnelly says they sent "numerous" letters detailing how homeschooling is a valid form of education, legally recognized in Ohio. He explained to their attorney, Adele O'Connor, that in fact the state of Ohio specifically considers a homeschool diploma to be "equivalent to an accredited public education." He stated that despite their claim, the company has no "legal impediment" to hiring a homeschool graduate.

The company, however, disagrees. Donnelly gave Truth Revolt NiSource's exact words regarding their policy, not only as it pertains in this case, but as dictates their hiring practices going forward.

"Although these policies may be disappointing to impacted invididuals, the company's position remains firm."

That means, as a matter of policy, the company does not, and will not, recognize a homeschool education as a valid, legal education "equivalent to an accredited public education," despite the clear legal status conferred by the state.

As opposition to Common Core rises, many parents are considering or have already made the switch to homeschooling their children to ensure a proper education. Many parents see the imposition of these across the board standards as not only a step backward in education, but a step forward in statism. How much more so, then, when discriminatory hiring practices in ignorance of or opposition to both legal definitions and available evidence of standards are embraced by major employers putting people in the position of being forced to endure those federal directives?

Donnelly and the HSLDA would remind Americans and especially companies like NiSource that research abounds proving that graduates of homeschool education are at least as well rounded in their education and prepared for the work force as students of public education. Most homeschool parents and graduates would say they are far better equipped. And in this particular case, the candidate was clearly qualified for the position. It was only the company's bias that prevented him from working.

[Matt P]

Scanner, that's a fascinating story about the man denied a job because of being homeschooled. On the one hand, it seems like prejudice. On the other, companies are allowed to hire the kind of people they want I suppose. I personally feel like a company would be wise to hire the most qualified people, regardless of educational background but, again, perhaps the company doesn't want too many free-thinking homeschoolers working for them. Maybe they want good, obedient little robots to just do a job and not ask too many questions. Makes sense with them being an international gas and electric corporation. https://www.nisource.com/about-us
The man should consider himself fortunate and go find a company more in line with who he is and who will appreciate his talents and background. Isn't this supposed to be how it works? Companies align themselves the way they want and people work for the ones that are good fits for them?

Matt

[loungelizard]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Apokalypse - I was a teacher for many years here in the UK where thousands of parents choose to educate their children outside the traditional school system for a whole range of reasons. I'm afraid I can't comment on the Common Core, but only on the National Curriculum.

I had no idea that Ron Paul is fronting a home schooling curriculum until I read the article you posted - have you looked into this? It made my blood run cold. The Director of Curriculum Development of the programme is a friend of Ron Paul's, a man named Gary North. Gary North is a Christian Reconstructionist, and is the son in law of the founder of this extremist group. I'd never heard of Christian Reconstructionism and oh my goodness…briefly, they believe in the establishment of Old Testament Law in the US: they wish to "reconstruct" American society along "biblical lines".

This entails, from what I have read, having the option of applying the death penalty for apostasy, rape, murder, adultery, fornication, unchastity before marriage (in women), witchcraft, astrology, incest, striking a parent, homosexuality, blasphemy, juvenile delinquency, having an abortion, aiding an abortion…the list goes on.

Here is a breakdown of their beliefs: http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v08n1/chrisre1.html

North wrote a book called The Sinai Strategy, in which he advocates stoning as a punishment:
"Why stoning? There are many reasons. First, the implements of execution are available to everyone at virtually no cost...executions are community projects--not with spectators who watch a professional executioner do `his' duty, but rather with actual participants...That modern Christians never consider the possibility of the reintroduction of stoning for capital crimes indicates how thoroughly humanistic concepts of punishment have influenced the thinking of Christians." http://reason.com/archives/1998/11/01/invitation-to-a-stoning

Gar North has presented this bizarre and frighteningly restrictive list is what a child should be able to achieve by following the entire Ron Paul curriculum through to 12th grade:

• Speak in public and speak confidently
• Write effectively
• Run a website
• Operate a YouTube channel
• Understand mathematics
• Understand basic science
• Start a home business
• Defend the free market system intellectually
• Understand the history of Western civilization
• Understand American history
• Understand the U.S. Constitution and how it has been hijacked
• Understand the interaction between literature and historical development
• Understand Christianity's influence in the West
• Understand Austrian-school economics

The course is not accredited and therefore students would not have the option of college.

There is an analysis of Gary North's work at http://blog.skepticallibertarian.com/2013/04/08/gary-north-the-libertarian-taliban/

I'm speechless.

[RunningDeer]

anyone please care to explain what's Common Core is about and why such negativity about it...

Hi apokalypse, I’ve downloaded these videos.


Arkansas Mother Obliterates Common Core in 4 Minutes!
wZEGijN_8R0


This second video begins @ 2:12 - The young man does a great job!


Why Common Core Must Be Opposed
jp_mp5cJMDU

<3

[Vangelo]

My wife homeschooled our twins. It is not easy and there are pros and cons to it. For me, the most appealing part of homeschooling is that children learn to think and do for themselves. This skill is essential to life long success and it is not something that is fostered in public schools at all. In general, homeschool kids excel in college because they already know how to think and study. I would recommend it for most familes but certainly not all.

I have also written childrens books and a teacher's guide that accompanies the children's book. The teacher's guides describe how to implement certain portions of the common core standard using my books. In all honesty, I have been quite impressed with those common core standards that I have mapped to my books. The standards do not describe how to teach and they do not include lesson plans. They simply describe what a child should know per subject, per grade. From what I understand, the problems with CC are the result of very poor implementation of the standards i.e. the lesson plans the teacher's develop are poor. To me, this is more frightening than the standard because it means the author of the curriculum and the lesson plans don't know how to teach.

[scanner]

Please research Common Purpose in the UK , nothing happens unless they are involved . I'm not 100% but I think Common Purpose has the same agenda as the US Common Core .

[apokalypse]

4OPpbQWg9X8


it seems this Common Core thing is happening around the world..Agenda 21?

[loungelizard]

It's interesting that you should post that video, Apokalypse - I was reading about the Freedom Project a couple of weeks ago, when I was doing some research on behalf of a friend who is thinking of home schooling in the US.

Have you looked into its ethos? It's a home school online programme which says it is "rooted firmly in Judeo-Christian values" and offers a "complete classical education". It is partnered with Grace Christian Academy, whose motto is "Christ-centred, Bible-based, Discipleship -driven" and Liberty Christian Academy whose mission statement reads, "There can be no true knowledge apart from truth; there is no truth apart from God."

There is clearly an agenda being promoted here by this business. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with the facility they are offering: it's one of the many ways people can choose to educate their children, and I'm sure it provides a good service for those who feel so inclined.

But knowing their rationale, I personally could not rely on them for an impartial, dispassionate and unbiased assessment of the positive and negative elements of the Common Core.

[AjaJane]

I was homeschooled for many years, however it wasn't a conventional homeschool education, and was much easier on my parents. I went to a school for home schoolers - it was in my district, and only had around 70 students from grades 1-10. I would go 2 or 3 days a week and take a couple curriculum courses, but mostly electives like robotics, art, website building, and space. It was a really great environment, with supportive teachers that taught me so much.
I went into public school in grade 9, and I was shocked by the environment there - teachers that didn't care, and students who didn't work. It was also difficult for me because I was a "gifted" kid and the public school system is not designed for people like that. I learned how to work the system, and I learned what most people are like.
I'm glad I took the path that I did, because I had a supportive homeschooling beginning and then I went into public school and learned the system. I definitely think that public school is not a good choice for young kids especially.

[animovado]

Here is a link, just to give you a view on a radical form of schooling,
quite the opposite of common core. I studied their way of teaching for a while and find it a very
promising alternative.

http://www.sudval.com/01_abou_01.html