UPDATE: A few weeks ago the Alabama Baptist Convention passed a resolution for a full repeal of Common Core! Resolution No. 4 On Parental Authority Through Local and State Control of Education WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists hold fast their obligation before God to train up their own children; and WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists who place their children in public schools expect to be able to provide meaningful input into their children’s total education experience; and WHEREAS, The State of Alabama has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education called Plan 2020 which is problematic in the following areas: Plan 2020 requires adoption of the Common Core Standards not controlled by Alabamians; Plan 2020 requires implementation of assessments not written by Alabamians and that may measure non-cognitive areas such as a student’s attitudes and beliefs; Plan 2020 requires curricula aligned with these standards and assessments which contain materials offensive to Christian values and American exceptionalism; Plan 2020 requires non-cognitive data collection that violates student and family privacy and allows sharing of that data with third parties; Plan 2020 requires assessments that can be used to predetermine career paths rather than to equip students to choose their own future; and Plan 2020 requires all students to receive a data-driven counseling program that includes “personal/social development” in its Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Model; and WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists believe that the God-ordained family is the rightful place for inculcating values and determining career choices, and WHEREAS, The unproven methodology required by Common Core is resulting in significant frustration and dissatisfaction from many students, parents and teachers; and WHEREAS, There is little or no evidence that the level of student achievement would be raised by the Common Core Initiative; and WHEREAS, Any sound methods being applied in Alabama classrooms can be utilized without subservience to a federal mandate; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, November 11-12, 2014, stand for proven, superior education curriculum and practice chosen by state officials who will respect parental authority and respond to citizen input; and be it finally RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor along with the State Board of Education and/or the Alabama Legislature to repeal Common Core and accompanying assessments and replace them with sound, proven practices of educating and testing through local and state control of what is taught and how it is taught for the betterment of all children in the great state of Alabama. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last year, the Alabama Baptist Convention resolution (passed 11/13/2013) that pushes back on Common Core. Looks like the good God-fearing folks in Alabama are tired of having Common Core crammed down their throats. Heres the Resolution they passed: RESOLUTION NO. 12 ON PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION WHEREAS, The church has a long history of supporting education; and WHEREAS, Many of the great universities of America were started by churches and denominations; and WHEREAS, Alabama Baptist churches and parents support in various ways pre-kindergarten through grade 12 in their communities, including public, private, parochial, and homeschooling; and WHEREAS, A quality education can enhance the ministry of the church and an understanding of the Bible as it applies to life; and WHEREAS, Education offers the potential for the improvement of ones lifestyle and productivity; and WHEREAS, There are concerns over a new initiative in education called Common Core adopted in Alabama in 2010; and WHEREAS, Some tenets of Common Core could be utilized to enable the federal government to dictate state curricula as well as the approaches and materials teachers use to help children; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention, meeting in Huntsville, Alabama, November 12-13, 2013, encourage parents to be involved in the education of their children; and be it further RESOLVED, That we affirm all good and appropriate schools, including public, private, parochial, and homeschools; and be it further RESOLVED, That we encourage parents to support and monitor the schools where their children are educated; and be it further RESOLVED, That parents be aware of what their children are taught by reading textbooks and, when appropriate, addressing concerns to school boards, the state department of education, and other educational leadership; and be it further RESOLVED, That we encourage the Alabama Legislature and the Alabama State Board of Education to carefully study and evaluate Common Core and its effects on our children and the entire educational system; and be it further RESOLVED, That we urge those in authority to support the states role in establishing and maintaining its own standards and curricula for Alabama public school students; and be it finally RESOLVED, That we offer praise and appreciation for all who are involved in the educational process, especially Christian teachers who reflect Christ in their lives as they educate our children. ________________________________________________
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 15:40:14 +0000