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Health & Fitness

Learn About Common Core and How it Affects Our Children

Who: Everyone is invited to this free and open meeting

Where: Windham Senior Center, 2 North Lowell Road

When: August 13, 7pm

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The educational standards known as Common Core are being implemented in Windham schools.  Two experts with intimate knowledge of the standards have expressed serious concerns.

Prof. James Milgram from Stanford University was the only Mathematician to sit on the Math Validation Committee for Common Core, and he refused to sign off on the standards. He said the standards for math are so low, that:

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“by the end of fifth grade the material being covered in arithmetic and algebra in Core Standards is more than a year behind the early grade expectations in most high achieving countries. By the end of seventh grade Core Standards are roughly two years behind.”  To read more, click here.

Prof. Sandra Stotsky, Professor Emerita at the University of Arkansas sat on the Validation Committee for the Common Core English standards. She also refused to sign off on the standards, citing many concerns including:

“Common Core expects English teachers to spend at least 50 percent of their reading instructional time on informational texts at every grade level.”

“Common Core reduces opportunities for students to develop critical (analytical) thinking.”

“Common Core’s middle school writing standards are developmentally inappropriate for average middle school students.”

“Most of Common Core’s college-readiness and grade-level standards in ELA are empty skills”

students are not prepared for college coursework.” 

To read more, click here.

There are other concerns and unanswered questions regarding the implementation of Common Core; intimate data collection on students and their families – as well as the sharing of that data; constraints restricting local control; unknown cost; and more.

We all want what is best for our children, and ensure they receive an education that will truly allow them to excel on the world stage. Even if you home school or your child goes to private school, the Common Core standards will affect your family too.

Learn more from one of NH's most knowledgeable education experts, Ann Marie Banfield. She has has accumulated a vast knowledge of our education system by working with experts in education from across the country, including Professors Milgram and Stotsky.

This informative meeting will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, August 13th at the Windham Senior Center, 2 North Lowell Road, Windham. The meeting is free and open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to attend.

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