More than any other aspect of the new Common Core curriculum right now, what I fear most is its top-down control, its federal centralization of power.
Much as we are seeing with Obamacare, and in direct contradistinction to the Free Market, centralized power is not nimble: it’s clumsy and slow, and is particularly susceptible to corruption. Which means that no matter how pure its ideals or what standards are set initially, eventually a monolithic federal agency is going to be riddled with all of the graft and spectacular inefficiency of any OTHER government bureaucracy.
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Personally, I’ve heard some folks argue that Common Core is largely based on what’s been so successful in Massachusetts, but that’s not true. Actually, many in the Bay State are quite worried that all of the gains they’ve seen in their schools’ results will be wiped out by signing onto Common Core.
And what if Common Core was based on one state’s excellent results? The fact that something happens to work at the state level is reason for it to be explored by other states, NOT a rationale for mandating it for EVERY state. Different states have different demographics, different backgrounds: what works in Missouri may not be appropriate or effective in California, and vice-versa.
Plus, things change. A state will always be able to react to changes and advancements far more quickly than the federal government can.
But don’t bother telling any of that to our new Educational Overlords: they’re too busy fundamentally transforming our country to bother listening to the likes of us.
Bill Whittle’s latest ‘Afterburner‘ video is less of a critique of Common Core itself, and more a criticism of the IDEA of it. Ceding control of our bodies via Obamacare is bad enough; ceding control of our children’s minds to the federal government is the final straw.
Ultimately, how well-intentioned Common Core is (or isn’t) doesn’t matter: once control is achieved, the rest is inevitable.
Two Heads are Better Than One 
Common Core is riddled with problems, and from what I’ve researched, is more concerned with revisionist history and indoctrination than it is in education.
The issue is what do you do when you see it? With it being a top-down curriculum, you can’t even escape it by moving to a “better” school district.
Your options appear to be:
(1) accept it, (2) go to a parochial school, or (3) homeschool.
And I have to assume those other two options are in danger in the near future, as well.
Catholic schools have adopted it. There was a letter going around this summer asking Bishop Zubik to not accept this. Common Core is trying to get into all the schools. That’s what they want to do “brainwash the children.” Tis true!
Actually, about 100 Catholic dioceses across the country have adopted it, or the Catholic variant, Common Core Catholic Identity Initiative (CCCII). Many others have not and many maintain they never will.
We’ll see.
It is not mandatory, …yet. But the holdouts will have their lives made increasingly miserable by the government, I have no doubt.
If common core is accepted, even home schoolers will have to teach to the curriculum.
That is my concern, Mr. G.
It’s not the case in my state, yet. Our State Board of Education approved CC, effective 2017, with the caveat that it will be for Public Schools only.
Obviously, that’s for now. I’m as positive as it’s possible to be that this will be “revisited” in subsequent years, to make this mandatory for private and home schools, too.
And it’ll be for the children, doncha’ know.
But I’ll tell ya: they’ll have one heck of a time trying to make us teach ANYTHING to our kids that my wife and I don’t believe, I’ll tell you that.
It’s gonna get ugly, brudda.
VERY ugly.
Time for citizens on the local level to wake up and take charge.
Federal law prohibits the federal government from having ANY control over public education:
20 USC 1232 – Sec. 1232a. Prohibition against Federal control of education
U.S. Code – Title 20: Education (2004)
Pages: 20 USC Sec. 1232a

No provision of any applicable program shall be construed to authorize any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution, school, or school system, or over the selection of library resources, textbooks, or other printed or published instructional materials by any educational institution or school system, or to require the assignment or transportation of students or teachers in order to overcome racial imbalance.
Laws are only for the Little People to follow, tannngl.
Liberals are above those sort of things.
Sorta like gods…
Great post, Common Core will be a disaster for the country. Great how you used Bill Whittle here, he makes a lot of great points. Once the government controls our minds, it is all over for America and that is the goal of Common Core.
Appreciate the kind words, James.
And I love including Bill. Trying to add valuable context can be challenging, though, since Whittle does such a tremendous job handling any particular subject on his own.
I agree with you: once they control our minds, we might as well just adopt a character’s name from ‘1984‘ and go with it, ’cause that’s what we’ll be.
Can I be one of the rats that gnaws Winston? Just call me “Double plus gnawed good.”
Sorry, Duck: I missed your comment earlier…
But since you’re up on your ‘1984’ references, what aspect of that book now looks too far-fetched?
…and I’m including the rats, by the way…
I asked myself that same question, and my own answer scares me.
I wouldn’t say anything is too far fetched for the future. But while there have been Orwellian moves in language and thought, the mechanism of oppression and enforcement today is simply not there.
I have an inherent skepticism toward apocalyptic appeals. I always find pleasure in language though, even if it means making a bad pun out of Newspeak.
People need to wake up and see that the government can’t take care of you. They think this won’t happen here. But people need to get involved and not just talk about this, we need to hound our leaders. Control doesn’t work. People will rebel. Can’t just sit back and accept this. support your tea party people. Young and old get involved.