Blog Archives

Silencing our voices

2/28/2014

A post from one of our smartest Momma Bears:

A bill has been introduced in the TN legislature that would allow city councils/commissions to remove funds for lobbying from school district budgets. (HB 2293/SB 2525). This would set a dangerous precedent because it would allow a municipal-level, elected body to dictate how another municipal-level, elected body uses its money. If some councils/commissions decide to exercise this veto authority, they would effectively silence our voices in the halls of the legislature because these lobbyists represent our elected school boards who, in turn, represent us--the voters. And once our voices have been silenced, the lobbyists from wealthy groups intent on destroying public education will have free reign in the halls of Legislative Plaza.

If you are wondering why a school district/board might need lobbyists, look no further than what is happening with StudentsFirst (SF), a group founded by Michelle Rhee who also happens to be the ex-wife of Tennessee’s Education Commissioner, Kevin Huffman. The Sacramento.-based organization backs charter schools and vouchers and is funded by donations from extremely wealthy individuals, corporations, and foundations—including the Gates and Waltons. SF currently has an office in Nashville, along with 8 lobbyists.

There are other similar lobbying groups in TN, (who don't have you or your children's best interests at heart) including the following:

Tennessee Federation for Children: Supports charter schools and vouchers. 5 lobbyists.
TN Charter Center: Supports proliferation of charter schools. Employs 8 lobbyists.
Stand for Children: Supports charter schools and vouchers. Employs 2 lobbyists.
Beacon Center of TN: Supports vouchers. Employs 2 lobbyists.
Pearson, Inc.: Publishes Common Core materials and tests. Employs 1 lobbyist.
K12 Inc.: Runs K12 for-profit virtual charter school. Employs 5 lobbyists.

(Go to this link https://apps.tn.gov/ilobbysearch-app/search.htm to find documentation of these lobbyists.)

Why do local school boards need lobbyists?
School board members in TN are part-time positions and these representatives do not have the time to follow all of the bills that are going through the legislature. They need the help of lobbyists to help them keep track of bills that directly affect their schools and constituents. And just in case you are keeping score, here are the lobbyists school boards/districts use in our state:

Coalition of Large School Systems: Represents Shelby, Nashville, Hamilton, and Knox County school systems. Employs 2 lobbyists
Tennessee School Board Association: Represents all school boards who pay dues to it. Employs 1 lobbyist.
Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents: Represents interests of school board directors who pay dues to it. Employs 3 lobbyists.

Final score:
StudentsFirst & Company = 31 lobbyists!!!
School boards/districts = 6 at the most.

As you might suspect, StudentsFirst, Stand for Children, TN Charter Center, and other groups reportedly support these bills. They apparently have no problem suppressing the voices of our elected officials and, subsequently, our voices in the legislative process—especially when the views expressed by these officials run counter to their agendas.

(Note: All Momma Bears are volunteers. We are concerned parents who do this solely because we care deeply about public education.)

Please email or call the members of the Local Government Committee ASAP.
(This bill is up for a vote at 12:00 on Tuesday, March 4th.)

You can cut and paste the text of this letter into your email:

Dear Local Government Committee,

We urge you to vote against HB 2293 that would allow city commissions and councils to veto lobbying expenditures in school district budgets. This would set a dangerous precedent because it would allow a municipal-level, elected body to dictate how another municipal-level, elected body uses its money. And, if some councils/commissions decide to exercise this veto authority, they would effectively silence our voices in the halls of the legislature because these lobbyists represent our elected school boards who, in turn, represent us--the voters. This seems to be an effort by a group of well-moneyed special interest groups to silence the voices of elected officials and voters. We believe passage of this bill would further remove our government and education system from the will of the people and place it almost solely in the hands of the wealthy and powerful elite. Please hear our voices and vote against HB 2293.

Sincerely,

And you can cut and paste the following emails into your email:
Rep.matthew.hill@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.richard.floyd@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.dale.carr@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.vince.dean@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jeremy.durham@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jimmy.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.steve.hall@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.andy.holt@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.sherry.jones@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mike.sparks@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mike.stewart@capitol.tn.gov

***UPDATE to this blog: Click HERE to see how many other lobbyists we forgot on this list!

Danger: Inappropriate education website for kids

2/28/2014

Momma Bears received this info from a Mom:

My 11 year daughter informed me of a Common Core website that her class has to get on to read an article and take a quiz on afterwards. The assigned articles are harmless however the teacher allowed them to read other articles when they were done testing. She happened upon an article about a transgender boy winning homecoming queen. It explained that he was taking medicine to change his hormones without his parents knowing. I am in the process of talking to the school about this. My fear is that this will become mandatory and the articles tested on will be up to the teachers or worse the government. I try to keep my kids "kids" as long as possible. I am outraged at the whole idea of Common Core. It seems to take our children's childhood away. So much time frustration, testing, and stress. Not to mention the material they see that we as parents don't get the opportunity to read. Is this a slow indoctrination? The website is called: www.newsela.com and, by the way, this article that she read was under the kids section. Crazy huh?

Momma Bears checked it out...
Newsela is a website that has news articles for students grades 3-12. Students can change the Lexile score of each article for different reading level. It is all Common Core aligned, of course. There are even quizzes for students to take about each article after they read it, and the score is sent to their teacher. Students must create a username and password, or students may use their Google Apps for Education login information. You don't have to register to view the articles (the first 4 are free), just to take the quizzes.

Sure enough, that article is right there in the KIDS section if you scroll to the bottom:

And here's another one you might not want your 3rd grade child reading:

And, if that's not bad enough, this article bashes parents:

The NewsELA website tells children to:

Read closely.
Think critically.
Be worldly.

There are plenty of articles about global warming, some about legalizing marijuana, a few others about gay rights, and lots of articles praising President Obama. Momma Bears do not believe issues such as these are appropriate for elementary or middle school children.

How does Newsela choose the articles?
Their website says: "Our editorial team chooses articles that are timely (often breaking news), worldly (we balance domestic US stories with international coverage), and substantial (you won’t find Justin Beiber and his pet monkey in Newsela). We are very deliberate in distributing alignment of articles across a range of Common Core standards."

Did you catch that last sentence??? They are "VERY DELIBERATE in DISTRIBUTING alignment of articles across a range of COMMON CORE standards." Gee, ya think???

And if distributing isn't enough, they QUIZ the kids after they've read it to reinforce the biased, inappropriate material they just read.

So, who is funding this "educational courseware" that is "transforming the way learners access the world through words" and is, of course, aligned with common core?

Go ahead, we'll give you 1 guess...

Bingo! Bill Gates
Newela "won" a $100,000 Literary Coursework Challenge grant. "The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is investing $6 million in web-based courseware to support students in mastering the Common Core State Standards for literacy at the 4th–8th grade levels."
(Click HERE to visit the Bill & Melinda Gates website that proudly shows how they're throwing their money at common core, including this company.) Bill Gates isn't the only source of revenue, there are lots of sugar-daddy foundations wanting a piece of this profitable pie.

Momma bears kept digging and turned up this dirt...
Newsela's founder, Matthew Gross, "led the development of EngageNY.org, a web application providing teachers and administrators with resources for implementation of Common Core state standards and teacher and principal evaluations." Congratulations, Matthew Gross, for the worst and most perverted implementation of Common Core in the entire nation! Parents are furious to learn that the www.engageny.org website (a website you developed for the NY Education Department with tax dollars, and which your commissioner John King bragged about for all the high traffic it was getting) contained horribly inappropriate links for students to "quizzes" to find out if they are a "slut," "a se*y b***h," "a freak," or "losers." Who knows how many children innocently clicked on those links and were asked questions we won't even print here. You'll have to click on the link to read them yourself. (That would explain the insanely high website traffic on the State of NY's website.)

WHO IS PROTECTING OUR KIDS???
Certainly not these profit-seeking creeps.

NOTE: Please don't write Momma Bears about gay bashing, global warming, or Obama. We actually are quite open-minded people with friends who are gay. We respect that. As parents, our choice is how we shelter our kids and introduce adult concepts. We don't want our young children exposed to those topics about sexuality at school, especially not in elementary school. These internet-based educational websites are circumventing parents, and THAT is what we have the biggest issue with.

What can you do about it, Momma Bears & Daddy Bears?

Ask your children's teachers if they use the Newsela website. If so, send a polite note to them saying your child is not permitted to use it.
Talk to your school board members to tell them of this inappropriate "educational tool" and make sure it isn't being used in your district.
Contact your legislators. Forward them this blog if you want. Tell them you sure don't like this common core crap. But don't use the word "crap" (even though it is the truth).
Ask your kids what they are doing in school. We're sure this isn't the only biased "educational tool" out there. School districts are pinching pennies to make ends meet, so free or cheap "tools" like Newsela are awfully tempting, especially when everything is required to be aligned with the common core corporate standards.
Be vigilant. Always watching. Pay attention to what your kids are being exposed to. Don't trust that they're safe just because they are at school or that a teacher is monitoring these online websites.

Time to use your PARENT power:
Call and/or email legislators as soon as possible and let them know that you support these bills:

Testing Opt-Out (HB1841/SB2221): “This bill permits parents to opt their children out of participation in high-stakes testing.”
Repeal Common Core (HB 2332/SB 2405) This bill would Repeal Common Core Standards in TN!!!
Postpone Common Core (HB 1825 /SB 1985) requires the state board of education and the department of education to postpone any further implementation of Common Core State Standards beyond those standards implemented as of June 30, 2013, until further implementation is approved by the general assembly.

A Creepy test --- PARCC

2/26/2014

Someone sent this video to Momma Bears and it freaked us out. We transcribed the video for you below.

Feb. 5, 2014 - Dr. Peg Luksik explains how Common Core testing can embed questions that result in behavior change without protest from the children. Poughkeepsie, New York

Question from a Mom in the audience:
"I'm trying to understand because I thought that PARCC and the Smarter Balance, with both, it sounds like as the student is taking it, the test will actually modify itself to how the student is doing? And when the test results comes back, that would be to the benefit of the student? So why is it then that the teachers don't like it if it is self-paced? Wouldn't you think that would be wonderful?"

Dr. Peg Luksik's response (as transcribed by a fast-typing Momma Bear):

"The problem isn't that it is self-paced, the problem is that the test is open to manipulation."

So if I wanted to look like the students are doing poorly, I can adapt it to make the test harder. If I wanted to make it look like the students are doing well, it can be adapted to make the test easier. And you, as parents, or taxpayers, or policy-setters, will never know which way the test was adapted because it is an internal mechanism so it is not a valid assessment, and that is the fundamental problem with it. The test is being manipulated as the test is being taken. In other cases, when you're not in math but some of the other areas, history or where it is more philosophy-driven, you have to comply before you can move on. So the child is put in the position of: "you must agree."

"I don't agree with the global warming." (giving an example) But you have to because the test won't let you move on unless you comply.

So the test-makers can make the test adaptive: we can make it easier... we can make it harder... or we can make it so that we force compliance. You can't take the next step unless you comply with whatever is being taught or presented in the test. So even if you don't agree with it, you are gonna have to write it, you're gonna have to say so.

Perhaps an example that is older will help you... I have a long history in this movement. This is not the first time that the federal government has attempted to take over education. So in the 1990s, it was called "Outcome based education" and then called "School to Work." I was one of the leading national opponents then, too. I got involved because a woman showed me a test. It was given in Pennsylvania and was called the Educational Quality Assessment (EQA). It was originally given back in the 70's and early 80's. The test said "Citizenship" so parents thought they were testing things like George Washington and the Declaration of Independence... but when you looked at the internal documents of the test, which I did, it said "we're not testing objective knowledge," it said "we are testing and SCORING for the child's threshold for behavior change without protest" and that was in the test!

A sample question said: "There's a group called Midnight Marauders and they went out at midnight and did vandalism. I, the child, would join the group IF..."
... "my best friend was in the group."
... "my mother wouldn't find out."
There was no place to say they would NOT join the group. They had to say they would join the group.

Another sample question was, "Your parents just found out that they are moving to outer Mongolia, how much time would you spend on each of the following:"
..."being upset"
..."crying"
..."arguing"
So, how adaptable are you to change?

Based on the results of the EQA, districts were given curriculum packets to modify their curriculum so that the children would do better on the EQA the next time. So they were using the test to get a threshold for behavior and then adapting.

Now that was a paper and pencil test, so to say that it was easy to track is a gross overstatement of the level of difficulty that it was to get the information, but compared to a computer adaptive test... much easier.

And when we were fighting Outcome Based Education, I was in every state but Hawaii. And in one state I was reading the Assessments, it was a Reading Assessment, and it was a story about a child who found a wallet and there was money in the wallet, and what do you do with the money. I'm sitting in the Department of Education, reading it in front of the other Secretary, because they didn't want me to make a copy and take it anywhere, which was fine, and the question was to the child:

"If you found a wallet with money in it, would you take it?"

(pause) Do you read better if you say "yes"? or do you read better if you say "no"?

Or were they testing a child's honesty on a State assessment with their name on it that was computerized? Because, with paper and pencil, I could find it.

What if they put that in a computer test? and if they don't give the right answer, I can change the computer to move them in the next direction.

So, the computer adaptive testing is REALLY dangerous for our children. Because the State can manipulate achievement data by making the test harder if they want, or easier if they want, but you won't know... you'll just get "proficient" results.

Or they can use the test to test for, and then influence, what your child thinks and how your child thinks about a variety of topics. And, again, parents thought that was a Reading test. They didn't know that "honesty" was being tested on a paper and pencil State Assessment with their child's name on it that is now part of their record.

And no child would think to say (raising hand), "Is that a Reading question?" Children just answer the questions in front of them because they're KIDS. They just take the test. THAT is what they are using the test for. Computer Adaptive makes that so much easier, and, therefore, so much more dangerous.
(end transcription, emphasis added by Momma Bears)

The PARCC test will be a State mandated test for Tennessee students in 2014-15. Some unlucky students will get to take the "pilot" PARCC this spring. No, they aren't flying an airplane... it means those students gets to be unpaid guinea pigs for the testing company (Pearson). Parents probably won't be asked permission for their children to take the trial test, so unless they ask, parents won't even know their child is being given this pilot PARCC test. Their children will miss precious class time to take a test that doesn't count for anything (except to help Pearson profit).

Will the PARCC have questions about honesty or character?
We don't know. We will never know. Parents and teachers are never allowed to see the questions. Test security is tougher than Fort Knox. In fact, a teacher in Memphis was fired last year because a high school student snapped a picture of a test question and put it on facebook. So, unless children mention the strange test questions to their parents, we have no clue. That's how Momma Bears found out about the awful Climate Surveys in TN (which, thanks to parents raising heck, have been stopped this year until parents give written consent. Go, Momma Bears!!!) And that's how parents in New York found out that the PARCC included questions with name brand products embedded in them.

Why does the government want to know this stuff about my child?
Admit it, you think Momma Bears are a little cuckoo for thinking that the government is spying on your children's brains and wanting to know their character traits. It does sound like something you'd see in a sci-fi movie. But you cannot argue with official government documents. We didn't write it, the government did. So, we give you facts. This document published by the U.S. Department of Education says:

"What will it take to shift educational priorities to promote not only content knowledge, but also grit, tenacity, and perseverance? This is an important and exciting time to stop, take stock, and prepare to move forward. New and emerging trends in research, policy, programs, and technology are providing unprecedented opportunities... new research programs are exploring ways to promote these factors. Several private foundations have recently initiated programs to push the frontiers of theory, measurement, and practice around these and related factors, particularly for at-risk and vulnerable students. In national policy, there is increasing attention on 21st-century competencies (which encompass a range of noncognitive factors, including grit), and persistence is now part of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.(page V)

Take the time to read that government document from the U.S. Department of Education. It is super-creepy!
p.39 has a Character Report Card
p.44 has pictures of the student sensors (facial cameras, pressure monitors, wrist straps, etc.)

And also take time to read the TN Race to the Top Application, Appendix C
(It is also an official government document, but it was written by consultants paid for by Bill Gates). It, too, will freak you out majorly to learn that they are compiling a 360 degree view on every child in public schools in TN, and they will share that information with the Federal Government and 3rd parties.

What if I don't want my child to take the PARCC, SBAC, State Mandated tests, or District tests?
Currently, there is no "Opt-out" law in TN. There is a proposed bill sponsored by the very awesome Knoxville Representative Gloria Johnson (she is also a teacher). If that bill passes the Legislature and becomes Law, parents would have the right to make the decision for their child (Ummm... so the government owns our kids, and parents have to get legal permission to prevent them from taking a test that could be harmful??? Momma Bears disagree with that!). The Pearson testing company sure doesn't want Rep. Johnson's Opt-Out bill to pass, and their 8 well-paid lobbyists are pushing hard to prevent it from passing. Now a half-a-billion dollar fiscal note has been added to the bill, because if students don't take the test, the federal government won't be happy and will want the $500 million back from the Race to the Top grant (which is really our tax dollars in the first place!) Crazy. Our kids in TN have a half-a-billion-dollar testing bounty over their heads. Crazy, crazy, crazy.

Use the magic word:
If you want to "opt-out" of testing for your child, be sure to use the word "REFUSE" instead. It seems to work for parents who have used it in TN. If you use the word, "opt-out," you'll be told the Attorney General says you cannot legally opt-out (which is true because TN does not have an Opt-out law. Yet.). Crazy, huh? Refuse is the magic word.

What if I keep my child home on testing days?
Some parents do that and it works. However, the testing windows to administer state mandated tests last a few weeks because there aren't enough computers to test every child at once. Testing must be done in shifts and this takes a long time. Plus, there are make-up test days following the test window weeks. That's a LOT of unexcused absences for a student.
Note: We're not saying you should lie and say your child is sick those days, because lying is dishonest, but your child could possibly be reported for truancy for having that unexcused absences. Crazy, huh?
Another negative: the State mandates that the test count as 15%-25% of the child's grade on his/her final report card. So, depending on your district, your child will be given a zero averaged in with his other grades. In most districts, this means 10% of their English grade will be counted as a zero, and 10% of their math grade will be a zero, averaged in with their semester grades.

Some parents in other states have had success with this method of "opting out":
Withdraw your child from school the day of testing. After the testing window is complete, re-enroll them in school. This method is a big hassle both for the parent and for the school personnel. And you'll need to figure out childcare arrangements since they won't be at school. But it prevents the test from being given to your child, prevents the zero being a part of his/her final grade, and means you won't be reported to DHS for truancy or unexcused absences.

Time to use your Superhero power:
Call and/or email legislators as soon as possible and let them know that you support these bills:

Testing Opt-Out (HB1841/SB2221): “This bill permits parents to opt their children out of participation in high-stakes testing.”
Repeal Common Core (HB 2332/SB 2405) This bill would Repeal Common Core Standards in TN!!!
Postpone Common Core (HB 1825 /SB 1985) requires the state board of education and the department of education to postpone any further implementation of Common Core State Standards beyond those standards implemented as of June 30, 2013, until further implementation is approved by the general assembly.

Paid Common Core Cheerleaders???

2/25/2014

Momma Bears just got an email from TN Parents and we agreed we need to share it with our followers:

Who is picking up the tab for the Common Core Cheerleaders?

The Common Core coaches in TN have all been summoned to the Capitol to support Common Core and the PARCC test.

These Common Core coaches (who all received a very nice bump in salary and job title) will be absent from their teaching jobs with their students during the school day to be in Nashville. How many days? We are not sure. We do know that substitute teachers have been booked to cover their classrooms. We are unable to find out who is paying for the cost of the substitutes, but we have a feeling that it is our tax dollars footing the bill.

Like the atmosphere of the Senate Common Core hearings in September, seats will be reserved in the committee chambers for these Common Core Coaches. Ordinary citizens will be stuck in the remaining seats on the back rows or watching the committee broadcast on the screens in the hallway.

It is important to note that the jobs and big salaries of these cheerleaders, as those of the corporately-funded and well-paid SCORE organization, and the Chamber of Commerce businesses who stand to profit from Common Core (like Ingram) all depend upon Common Core and PARCC happening in TN. They are there for the money.

It is also important to note that the parents and teachers stuck in the hallways and/or those who couldn't get a paid day off from work to be there but are watching online, are very much against Common Core and PARCC. They are fighting for the children.

Just keep that in mind, Legislators, when you see all those glossy stickers across their chests from SCORE and hear their cheers of "rigor." They do not cheer for our children.

from: http://www.tnparents.com/2/post/2014/02/paid-common-core-cheerleaders.html

Last year, some of us Momma Bears attended the 2 days of Senate Education Committee hearings about Common Core. It was a wild story (you can read about it HERE if you'd like). We Momma Bears felt so out of place, having never been to anything political like that before. We learned a lot and we sure saw a whole lot of generously paid Common Core cheerleaders wearing those "glossy stickers" (TN Parents got those words from our Momma Bear blog!) Anyway, that trip was before our blog really took off and before we'd recruited more Momma Bears.
(Can you believe our last week's blog post got 245,000 hits over the past 5 days? and 20,000 likes on facebook?? We're thrilled! Thanks for reading and sharing, everyone!)

One of our Momma Bear teacher friends has some friends who were hired as Common Core Coaches. They told her that they make at least $10,000 more per year, plus travel expenses. And they also told her that "coaches who attend training and express "unsavory" remarks about CCSS are quickly asked to leave, essentially "fired" from the position - no stipend."

WARNING: MOMMA BEAR RANT:
GRRRRRR!!!! That is NOT the kind of atmosphere we want for our children's teachers. We want teachers who are leaders, not followers! We want teachers who are unafraid to speak up to do what is right for our children. This Common Core garbage is being forced on our children because of MONEY. We must get it out of our schools!!! They are picking on the wrong Mommas here in Tennessee!!!!

We gotta do something about this, Momma Bears!
Now, we know most of us are well past the acceptable age to wear any type of cheerleader attire, but it is time for Momma Bears to take action and root for our children:

Please call and/or email legislators as soon as possible and let them know that you support these bills:

Testing Opt-Out (HB1841/SB2221): “This bill permits parents to opt their children out of participation in high-stakes testing.”
Funding for State-Mandated Tests (HB1826/SB1986): This bill requires that the state pay for any future state-mandated tests. This is important because many districts and schools are having problems finding the funds to pay for Common Core/PARCC testing.
1-year Waiver of PARCC High-Stakes for Teachers (HB2043/SB2122): This bill, “…prohibits use of results from the first year of student assessments based on common core standards to be used for teacher evaluations or for promotion, retention, termination, compensation, tenure or other teacher employment decisions.”
1-year Waiver of PARCC High-Stakes for Districts (HB 1975/SB 2102): This bill prohibits the use of scores on the PARCC/Common Core testing to evaluate districts during the 2014-2015 school year.
Reimbursement for Common Core Tests (HB 2290/SB 2057): This bill requires the state of TN to reimburse school districts for any costs related to purchasing and implementing Common Core testing (PARCC) and standards.
Repeal Common Core (HB 2332/SB 2405) This bill would Repeal Common Core Standards in TN!!!
Postpone Common Core (HB 1825 /SB 1985) requires the state board of education and the department of education to postpone any further implementation of Common Core State Standards beyond those standards implemented as of June 30, 2013, until further implementation is approved by the general assembly.

Not sure you have the guts to contact legislators?
They won't bite, we promise. The TN Parent website has some great tips on how to do it effectively. Click HERE to visit the TN Parents Take Action website

"Bear" with us, readers! Thanks!!!

2/22/2014

Thanks for reading and sharing our blog! In the past 48 hours, our blog has had over 165,000 views!!! Apparently, our blog on testing really hit home with people in TN and even across the country. We hear you, teachers & parents! In fact, we can't keep up with all the people who are contacting us through our contact form. Please "bear" with us Momma Bears, we'll try to respond.

NOTE: Yes, we know we disabled the comments on the blog posts. You don't have to tell us. We got sick of deleting crazy people's rants and spam... and, honestly, it was getting difficult to tell the difference between the two. We do not allow profanity on our website. So, if you are a crazy, political spammer with a potty mouth who wants to sell replica Rolex watches, please go create your own website.

A teacher sends a LOUD message. Parents hear it.

2/20/2014

A frustrated email from a teacher sent to the parents of his students:

Dear parents,

Unfortunately, and I mean unfortunately, I am going to have to give a MIST test for three hours to each of my 4 regular language arts classes this week. I say "unfortunately" because it is a lot of time that can be used for reading, instruction, and learning, and it means a changed and altered schedule for the entire week. MIST is a writing assessment in which my students will have to compare and contrast two nonfiction articles. The entire examination is computerized, for it will be all typed. None of my students are proficient at typing. Their scores will not determine a grade, average, or placement for next year. Right after this MIST test, my students will have to take another DEA (Discovery Education) test and a TCAP soon after that. Can you say "over testing"? However, despite my negative views, I have confidence in my kids and have assured my students that they will rise to the occasion as always, do their best, and help get me through the week.

While we're not on the computers, we are going to attempt to finish our "Arachne" questions and finish up our compare and contrast essays on "Arachne" and "The Stone." I have been so impressed with the beginning of those essays. Not often do most of my classes over exceed my expectations, but they have so far on this writing activity. They have started really well. It amazes me how much our writing has already improved since August. I am very happy with them.

We were supposed to begin reading The Clay Marble, a novel taking place during the civil war in Cambodia in the late 1970's, but because of the testing and interrupted schedule I don't think we'd finish it before spring break. I don't want to have an entire week off in the middle of a book. I'll keep you informed. Have a nice President's Day and week.

Mr. XXXXX

This teacher just plain ROCKS!!!
He's fed up with state and district testing. He just wants to teach.
Even more frustrating: a big chunk of his yearly evaluation score is based on the test results of his students that he doesn't have time to teach.
And even more frustrating that that: other teachers at his school are evaluated based on the test results of HIS students (even though those students may never be in that teacher's class) because some subjects are not tested with standardized tests.

You can thank these people for this asinine TVAAS evaluation system:

TN Board of Education (appointed by Gov. Haslam)
TN Commissioner Kevin Huffman (appointed by Gov. Haslam)
Governor Haslam (who sent his kids to private schools that didn't excessively test or rate teachers by test scores)
William Sanders (the statistician who came up with this awful system to rate agricultural growth and somehow it is now it is being used to abuse teachers)

Teachers in his district (Shelby County, TN) tell us that 2 to 3 months of the school year are spent on such testing, pre-testing, post-testing, and assessments. That's a LOT of time that could be spent teaching. A LOT. Add it up over a child's education, and that's several years devoted to filling in bubbles!!!

Cha-ching!!!!
In Tennessee, money spent with Pearson, the creator of these tests, has TRIPLED since 2010 when Tennessee "won" a Race to the Top grant. Since then, class sizes have increased and support staff in the school buildings has been cut to afford these testing materials. (Click HERE to watch a very enlightening presentation about it)

YOU FAILED... but we hit the JACKPOT!!!
What happens if a child fails a test, such as Discovery Education (DEA)? Like a slot machine that hits jackpot in Tunica, that child is labeled as needing "intervention". (Note: this isn't the kind of intervention that Dr. Phil used to do on his show, not at all). Intervention means that the student who failed Pearson's test, now gets to sit in front of a Pearson computer program for hours each week instead of being taught by a live teacher.

Infuriating as it is, parents are not notified this is happening. They have no idea that their child is pulled from class to sit in front of a computer for hours each week instead of being in class when the teacher is teaching everyone else. HELLO??? That child will be even farther behind if he misses class time! Even more maddening (yes, it gets worse), there have been some cases where smart children have failed the confusing Discovery test, but the teacher cannot trump the computer results so these smart children are forced to do remedial computer programs until the next scheduled assessment block rolls around.

MADDENING THINGS:

Some materials on these tests haven't been taught to students, yet. One 3rd grade teacher said that 19 of 32 test questions on Discovery Assessment probe she was forced to give students mid-year were on material they had not even covered yet. DUH! Of course they are going to fail it if they haven't been taught it, yet! (Note: this teacher is following the TN Department of Education's pacing guide for the Common Core standards, so her students are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing)
Parents aren't told their children are being given these tests and surveys. Honestly, tests can be a good thing. Parents support teacher-generated tests that fairly assess what was taught that week or semester (like chapter tests, weekly spelling tests, math fact tests, etc.). Of course, parents know some testing is necessary, but at what point does it become excessive and abusive? What if a doctor kept giving x-rays to healthy bones every few weeks? Either you or your insurance company would question it and put a stop to it. When parents aren't told these tests and surveys are being given and when the teachers cannot tell parents that these tests are excessive and wrong (because they might get in big trouble from administration and lose their jobs), parents should be worried. Very worried.
Nobody gets to see the test questions on the TCAP or PARCC, not even the teachers. How do we know what questions the students got wrong? How do we know there aren't errors on the tests? How do we know the questions aren't biased? or have inappropriate content like these Pearson PARCC questions did last year in NY? Momma Bears say: "If you're giving it to my kid, I have a right to see it. Period."
Even if teachers know a student has mastered a subject, the student is still required to do the computerized intervention. The teacher's opinion from working with that child every day is trumped by the score generated by a computer program. (Note: this is a school/district based decision, so it may be different in your child's school)
Surveys and demographic questions have been attached to these computerized assessments without parents knowing about it (Click HERE to read our blogs about the demographic info students are asked without parental consent or knowledge)
Pearson acquired a major ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder) company last year. So, guess who profits from diagnosing kids with ADHD because they can't sit still and focus on Pearson's tests? Yep. (Click HERE to read it yourself)

So, what can YOU do about all these maddening things?

Consider running for Governor. Seriously, we need a pro-public school Governor in TN... Someone who realizes that our public schools are invaluable... Someone who realizes our children's teachers are priceless and deserve to be respected for their hard work and dedication... Someone who respects the rights of parents and puts our children above profit... Someone who doesn't act like Pearson's lobbyists are hot Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders selling Girl Scout cookies every time they show up at the capitol with Pearson products to sell in TN. (No offense to the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders or to the Girl Scouts, both are awesome organizations.)
Contact your legislators. Seriously, they DO listen. Tell them how your children are affected by all this testing. Here's a great website with Tennessee legislator's email addresses and even some tips on how to get your voice heard. It works.
Say "not with my child!" and refuse testing for your children. www.unitedoptout.com has a great guide for each State on how to refuse testing for your children with sample letters and even has a Get-Tough guide if your principals or district give you the run-around. If you are in Tennessee, www.stoptntesting.com is a terrific website for parents (and their facebook group is pretty awesome, too).

Here is what one Dad sent to his child's school this week:

"It's not as professional and polished as I would have liked, but it will work. If the school had TOLD parents that there was a writing assessment being given I would not opted my child out the day before testing. 2/3 of her class will have already taken this test by the end of school today. It doesn't count for anything, not a grade, not a teacher or school assessment, but it does count in my child's mind. She wants to do well.
This was NOT on the school testing calendar! I wonder why they didn't want parents to know?" - Dad in Franklin County, TN

Parents:
It is going to take YOU speaking up to make it better...
...Teachers can't do it.
...Principals can't to it.
...Administrators can't do it.
They all want and need to keep their jobs to provide for their families. Parents, your voice is important! Make it count for your kids!!!

A Papa Bear Speaks Up: Engineer Dad Explains Concerns for 7th grade Common Core Math

2/15/2014

On Facebook these days, talking about our children’s homework has become sport. We wonder who is writing the common core curriculum and how they come up with some of the content? Everyone is comparing notes. Generally we see our teachers and school integrating common core with as much creativity as they can while still keeping some school academic traditions that the students look forward to each year that might not be on the “to-do” test list for common core. Seems more and more though, if it is not on the test, it gets dropped from the lessons. But, who can argue with higher standards? We are optimistic. But, up till now we have taken a wait and see position on whether common core is as good as they say.

We are not political. We are just reasonable. As a family we are probably a typical public school family with kids who excel in the system. Generally grades are good. Every now and then we see some 100% in TCAP categories. We diligently communicate with our teachers and we are very strict about completing homework and trying our best. Sounds like the model family any teacher would want? My wife and I are both public school graduates who are college educated. I have a chemical engineering degree. Math is my thing. And I enjoy helping my children with math homework. But, this week revealed to me a disturbing trend in math curriculum - vocabulary.

My son had been struggling. So we took on this week’s lesson with a little more hands-on approach and were puzzled with what we saw. On the math vocabulary list were “Constant of Variation” Defined as: a constant ratio in a direct variation AND “Direct Variation” Defined as: the relationship between two variable quantities that have a constant ratio.

"When two variable quantities have a constant ratio, their relationship is called a direct variation or a direct proportion. The constant ratio is called the constant of variation." (Page 405 Common Core math 7th grade textbook published by Pearson).

This is absolute mush. Made up for the sake of introducing words into math. I have had plenty of math in my time, and have never heard of a "constant of variation" or "direct variation" in either engineering school or in my work as an engineer.

The text's authors have attempted to string together some meaningful math words to try to define a simple concept of proportion. The concepts of proportions, and functions and relationships are very vital in understanding algebra, but I think if I was a student I would be lost in the mush. I thought maybe I'm out of touch, but you can't even find these phrases defined in Wolframalpha. Is this what is meant by “common core aligned”? To integrate made-up words so we believe them to be true? Guess Wolframalpha is not aligned?

A big part of the problem, if I understand the issue, is that this common core initiative is pushing all this standardized mush onto the teachers and taking away all autonomy and creative skills the teachers bring to the class with their diverse students. Somehow the belief is that if we integrate language arts into math, we will somehow strengthen our language skills? Nice idea. But, not with made-up words. I wonder if I would have become an engineer if language arts were a part of my K-12 math education?

So here is my attempt to verbalize and over-explain in the common core style of math written expression:

“If you were to graph the creative flexibility afforded our highly educated and maximally qualified teachers over time with common core, you would find that both the first derivative of the function and, most alarmingly, the second derivative of the function, are negative. There is no point of inflection as the function approaches infinity (i.e., increasingly decreasing teacher autonomy, with no turnaround in sight.)”

Look at the actual list of vocabulary (in picture above). Some words are viable. But, don’t make up stuff just to make us think we are going deeper or to give our kids an excuse to write in math class.

If this what we have signed on to with Common Core, I now understand why so many parents are asking for its repeal. Parents who are really paying attention lose trust in the idea common core is better. I understand this curriculum has not been field tested. So it makes perfect sense to let teachers field test by plucking out the good curriculum content from this mush we have been given in the Pearson textbook and leave the made-up definitions out of mathematics.

-submitted by a concerned Papa Bear in Tennessee

Some other articles about Common Core:

Why kids are struggling with Common Core Math:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/11/09/why-young-kids-are-struggling-with-common-core-math/
Sandra Stotsky: Common Core's math standards don't add up: http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20140118/Opinion/140129877
Journalist & Parent: Common Core Math Leaves Me Stumped: http://truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-state-standards/journalist-parent-common-core-math-leaves-stumped/
Common Core: 3 * 4 = 11 is Okay (Youtube video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW0VxxoCrNo&feature=youtube

3/10/14 UPDATE: Momma Bears has received many comments on this blog since we posted it. Some are from teachers who say this IS Common Core and some comments are from teachers who say it is NOT Common Core. Some teachers say they've never heard of these terms, some say they have them printed in their textbooks but don't teach them, others say they use them all the time. One teacher claims that this topic does not appear in Common Core standards until high school, so being in a 7th grade textbook, it was probably published before Common Core and is, therefore, not aligned with Common Core. One thing is for certain: there is a lot of confusion regarding Common Core and confusing math terms.

Update: Inappropriate Climate Surveys in TN

2/7/2014

Our website has been on fire! With over 55,000 views in less than a week, parents are spitting mad about the inappropriate Climate Surveys we blogged about (Click HERE to read that blog). We've been swamped trying to respond to all the comments, media, and elected officials. Here's the update:

Here is what we found out about the Climate Surveys:

They have been given since 2010 in TN. Some schools gave them in the fall.
Some districts may have notified parents, but most did not (note: we haven't heard from any parents who were notified about these surveys, and we've heard from a lot of parents. We don't think they intended to notify parents until parents got wind of what was going on.)
Principals and school districts are being blamed for not notifying parents before the surveys were given, but that does not change the fact that it was still an inappropriate survey created by and given by the TNDOE.
"Active" consent is different than "passive" consent. "Active" consent means you have to opt-IN. "Passive" consent means you have to opt-OUT. Momma Bears has identified a new kind of consent: "Sneaky-passive consent" = parents aren't even told that these surveys are happening until our kids tell us they already took it. SCARY TRUTH: Parents don't know they can refuse these surveys because they aren't ever informed they are happening.
There are so many new mandates coming from the top (TN Department of Education and from local districts, too) that Principals and teachers are giving surveys & tests that they've never seen before. And with the volatile environment and job insecurity, they are afraid to speak up. It is all coming too fast and without parental input. That's a problem. A big problem. We are glad that some legislators agree with this. Momma Bears hopes that there are some swift changes with the TN Commissioner of Education and TN Board of Education (they are appointed by the Governor) because they are getting too big for their britches. There are way too many business and unqualified Teach For America people being paid huge salaries in the TNDOE, and not enough real teachers and educators in those roles.

Follow up to what happened when Mom met with the Principal:
I met with my child's Principal, whom I hold in high regard, and he told me his hands were tied on the Climate Survey. It was easy to see that he was upset about it. After a little prompting, he has decided to put upcoming tests and/or surveys in the weekly school memos. I am really excited about that. More opportunity to opt out if needed. He didn't bat an eye when I told him I didn't want my child to take the TRIPOD (another survey with demographic questions. Click HERE to read a previous Momma Bear blog on TRIPOD). He said he is tracking the number of hours spent on tests and prep for tests, because he wants to put the focus back on learning, not testing.

I mentioned there was a kid in my child's class who told the teacher he thought the questions were inappropriate and the teacher AGREED, but told him he needed to take it anyway. The principal looked disturbed by that. I think he is going to rattle a few cages and is thankfully one of the best middle schools in TN, so maybe he won't get axed.

Is this Common Core???
The TNDOE will, of course, say that the intrusive collection of student data is not common core. They will then try to hypnotize you with this chant until your eyes glaze over:
"Common core is just rigorous standards...
Common Core is just rigged (oops) standards...
Common Core is just rigorous standards..." Namaste.
Then, they will pass the blame on one of these scapegoats:

poor implementation of common core,
teachers who aren't yet trained in the common core voodoo magic,
dumb parents who are too stupid to understand the new mysterious math methods (because they prefer the simple old ways that worked)
the companies that make the new common core curriculum

Pinch yourselves, people, and wake up! Momma Bears has read the Race to the Top Application and Appendix C. You can't argue with the facts. Common Core is inseparable from the testing and data collecting. Don't believe us, read it for yourself. See how TN plans to create a "360 degree view of each child." Read how they plan to collect all sorts of information on every child (including information that spans other agencies like social services and welfare). Then read how the FERPA law was changed to allow 3rd parties to be able to access all this personal data without parental permission.

Still in the La-La-Land of Denial??? There's more:
Parents were surprised to learn that their children answered some personal questions on the TCAP Writing Assessment this past week (these questions were separate from the Climate Surveys. Students couldn't skip them and they were not anonymous). Parents had no clue. These questions were tied to our children's names and ID numbers so they weren't anonymous. The questions seem harmless enough (Do you have a computer at home? internet? How often do you write? etc.), but the fact that our children were asked questions without our knowledge makes the Momma Bear fur stand up on our necks yet again (especially after reading Appendix C of the RTTT Application). How far will they push with asking our kids personal questions without telling us??? They've lost our trust already with the Climate Surveys, Tripod Surveys, Gaggle, and PLAN assessments they didn't tell parents about. Plus, the fact that Momma Bears has contacted the TNDOE 3 times and still not heard any response makes us even more apprehensive and suspicious.

One Momma Bear asked her child's principal about these surveys and this was the conversation:

Mom: "My concern is about the survey that my son had to take this week, can I get a copy of that?"

Principal: "I don't think that will be a problem, the questions were just about writing."

Mom: "My concern is that you had my son take a survey without parental consent."

Principal: "I can tell you this is the same survey they have taken for years."

Mom: "So, you are telling me for years you have had children do a survey without parental consent?"

Principal: "Can I contact the district office about this?"

What can you do?

Check with your school district to see what surveys are being given.
Opt your children out of surveys.
Opt your children out of standardized tests, pretests, and assessments.
Ask your elected legislators to get rid of common core.
Ask your elected legislators to vote to support these bills
Sign this petition to get rid of common core in TN.
Sign this petition to get rid of the appointed TN Commissioner of Education

What's next?
Some parents have spoken with attorneys and are pursuing legal action. If you feel your rights have been violated, contact us and we'll put you in touch with that group.

Good news!
Representative Sheila Butts just introduced a bill in TN that would require that parents be informed of all tests (and she says the bill will be amended to include surveys) before they are given to their children. Contact your legislator and ask them to support it. HB2167/SB2404 is the Bill. Click HERE to find your legislators and their contact info. They need to hear from Momma Bears and Daddy Bears in TN.

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