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If ‘Common Core’ isn’t on your radar yet for how the new standards are being used to transform what your children learn in school, and realigning the entire American education system, here are links to articles for more information. Controversy is growing nationally over the subject with many articles available online giving the pros and cons. For those who want to do more in-depth research, below are some links to further information including educators speaking out both in support and against Common Core, arguments by some parents who disagree with the new curriculum and are boycotting tests and some pulling their children completely out of public schools, thoughts on how Common Core is designed to give future control of the federal government over education and the future American workforce, how Bill Gates of Microsoft fits into the Common Core picture and his funding influence, and more. (Much more information is available online doing a search engine search on the keyword terms "Common Core".)

Wyoming schools, including Sublette County School Districts #1 and #9, are using Common Core and restructuring their K-12 education curriculums into it.

Here is what Sublette County School District #1 (Pinedale, Cora, Daniel, Boulder, Bondurant students) says about Common Core on their website (under Curriculum): "There is a substantial curriuclum initiative engaged at Pinedale Schools. Every content area is impacted by this initiative. Prompted by the adoption of Common Core Standards in Language Arts and Mathematics, along with other content areas (Foreign Language, Fine Arts, Health, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, and Career Technical/Vocational), the work of aligning curriculum is underway. Curriculum work is organized by nine content areas and then subdivided by grade and department level teams. These teams are inputting instructional units into curriculum mapping software. During the process of input, teachers are aligning CORE curriculum, which includes the identification of specific content and skills for each standard and unit of instruction. This is the first phase of development. Next, teachers will identify vocabulary, unit objectives, and instructional strategies. Once curriculum is mapped, CORE curriculum will be displayed through this website. Parents will be able to see the scope and sequence of instruction their kids will engage." A few curriculum maps are available on the school website with the note that the work will be updated monthly as changes are finalized. (Source: http://www.pinedaleschools.org)

There will be a citizen public meeting in Pinedale at 6PM on Monday, April 29th in the Lovatt Room of the Pinedale Library to discuss Common Core Curriculum, as well as SF104 - the new law by the Wyoming legislature to unilaterally eliminate the elected position of State Superintendent of Public Instruction and replace it with a Director of the Department of Education appointed by the Wyoming Governor. (More info) (Update April 16, 2013: Editor’s clarification and correction: SF104 did not eliminate the elected position of Superintendent of Public Instruction. That elected position still exists. But it did effectively gut most of the authority, duties and responsibility of that elected office and moved those over to the newly created position of Director of the Department of Education, an appointed office. Superintendent of Public Instruction, Cindy Hill, has sued to reclaim her powers. The Wyoming Supreme Court has agreed to hear her case.)

Related Links Common Core Initiative Implementing the Common Core State Standards Wyoming schools are using Common Core - Common Core State Standards Initiative website Wyoming lawmakers on education panel support common core standards - Trib.com, December 20, 2011 Promoting Grit, Tenacity, and Perseverance: Critical Factors for Success in the 21st Century - Parent recommendation: "instilling a growth mindset through consistently praising effort over ability is a simple practice that can have important payoffs." (pg. 105, recommendation 6a) - US Department of Education, Office of Education Technology, February 2013, 126 pages, PDF Supporting Instruction – Investing in Teaching - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in support of Common Core, 18 pages, PDF Bill Gates and Common Core - Can one man’s money buy and change the American education system? Top Ten Scariest People in Education Reform: #5 – Bill Gates Cursive writing at risk in U.S. schools - Historians concerned whether upcoming generations of students will be able to read hand-written historical documents if students are no longer taught cursive writing in schools because of Common Core emphasis on computer use Parents Voice Frustration at Increased Testing in Schools - New York, April 5, 2013

A Utah Teacher Afraid to Speak Out Publically Against Common Core - Truth in American Education raises the question of whether or not teachers are speaking out on Common Core for fear of losing their jobs Data mining in Common Core - Education system plans to mine personal data on children including information about their health, family income, religious affiliation and homework as well as possible future plans to use Common Core data-mining system monitoring techniques like ‘Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging’ (scanning one’s brain function), cameras to judge facial expressions, an electronic seat that judges a child's posture, a pressure-sensitive computer mouse and a biometric wrap on kids’ wrists. Intelligent Design – Common Core’s Core Goal - Tracking students, planned economies, and manipulation of future job markets by controlling the flow of workers (high school and college graduates) into jobs areas The dark side of Common Core Standards for education - Arizona, April 3, 2013. Three main arguments: States rights, privacy, and a content which seems to ‘dumb down’ the education of children The Radical Transformation of America’s Classrooms - Using education to shape students into ‘global servant pawns’ to create international change. ‘…our children have been indoctrinated into socialism for 33-40 years and this indoctrination is finally bearing fruit.’ Myths and realities surrounding the Common Core - (Opinion) Kaycee Eckhardt, Casper Star-Tribune, April 13, 2013 Do We Even Need Public Schools Anymore? Propagandizing the Plebs: The Common Core Curriculum Meets The GED - By Larissa Atbashian, American Thinker, May 6, 2013