The House gallery was packed to the brim Wednesday afternoon with activists, lobbyists, teachers, school superintendents and curious onlookers all interested in seeing what was to come of Common Core Standards.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s “Rumors & Rumblings,” the repeal of Common Core Standards has been a hot button issue for grassroots conservatives over the last several months. In the House Chamber on Tuesday both proponents and opponents of Common Core were given the opportunity to come to the mic and speak.
Things got started with House Speaker Mike Hubbard giving a statement.
.@speakerhubbard says setting standards is responsibility of AL School Board, not federal govt. twitter.com/YHPolitics/sta…
— Yellowhammer (@YHPolitics) February 27, 2013
“In order for Alabama to continue its success in job creation and economic development, we must have strict and aggressive academic standards, but those public education guidelines should be determined by Alabamians, not by federal bureaucrats and certainly not by Barack Obama,” Hubbard said.
“Decisions to set curriculum for Alabama’s public school students are the responsibility of the State School Board. It is also their job to make sure that the federal government and President Obama don’t try to use any program – Common Core or otherwise – to create a federalized system of education. However, if they choose to give up that responsibility, I have every confidence that this legislature will correct this issue. We’ve been the last line of defense on other issues, and I have no reason to doubt that we will be the last line of defense on this issue too.”
Rep. Jim Barton, the House sponsor of a bill to repeal Common Core Standards, was up next…
Rep. Jim Barton: “I don’t believe federal administration, the Obama administration, needs to dictate how to educate our children.”
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) February 27, 2013
…Followed by Alabama’s State Superintendent of Schools.
Tommy Bice, State Superintendent of Schools, lays out his case for supporting Common Core Standards. #alpolitics
— Yellowhammer (@YHPolitics) February 27, 2013
From that point forward, proponents and opponents took turns at the mic speaking 2-3 minutes each.
Betty Peters from state board of education… Says “we can be number 1 in education, we’ve done it in football.” #alpolitics
— Yellowhammer (@YHPolitics) February 27, 2013
Aaron Milner of Enterprise City Schools up. Says repealing standards “will be a self-inflcited wound for state of Alabama.” #alpolitics
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) February 27, 2013
Student who was homeschooled up, expresses concern that Core requirements make it harder for homeschoolers to go to college. #alpolitics
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) February 27, 2013
Joe Morton, former state school super, says he supports common core standards. Says businesses like them because they prepare workforce.
— Yellowhammer (@YHPolitics) February 27, 2013
In a statement released during the public hearing, Business Council of Alabama President Billy Canary echoed Morton’s comments with regard to workforce development. “The Alabama College and Career Ready Standards are vital in preparing students to compete in the 21st century global workforce which requires highly skilled workers… While some will continue a campaign of fear on this issue, we will continue to stand united in the business, education and military communities in offering our children the hope of a bright future.”
Citizen at the mic: “Common Core is the big tornado that will wipe the education fund off the map.” Says she supports repeal. #alpolitics
— Yellowhammer (@YHPolitics) February 27, 2013
Amy Lowe, 5th grade teacher up.Says student who wanted to be football player now wants to be mathemetician, thanks to Core. #alpolitics
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) February 27, 2013
Retired teacher up now, says common core standards “open Pandora’s box” of liberal propaganda aimed at school children. #alpolitics
— Yellowhammer (@YHPolitics) February 27, 2013
Eric Mackey of SSA up: “You don’t play a football game because two different teams come with two different sets of standards.”
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) February 27, 2013
Sen. McGill jokingly suggests renaming Core “Alabama Crimson Core Standards.” Bice: “It doesn’t sound very appealing at all. War Eagle.”
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) February 27, 2013
No “move the goalposts.” Yet. RT @yhpolitics Tons of football analogies during this public hearing… Both sides using them. #alpolitics
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) February 27, 2013
@yhpolitics what about the voters that put the BOE into office? They care about that? #askingforafriend
— BLatta (@blatta_in_al) February 27, 2013
Meeting on the Core Standards adjourns without a vote taken.#alpolitics
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) February 27, 2013
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