There has been a concerned push over the last week to rid Georgia of the Common Core State Standards. Northwest Georgia News covered a rally that was held last Tuesday at the Georgia State Capitol building. The rally sponsored by Concerned Women for America of Georgia Legislative Action and American Principles in Action.
Tuesday’s rally included parents with children in tow and Tea Party activists rallying in support of legislation by Sen. William Ligon, R-Brunswick, that would require the state to end its three-year use of the standards. It is likely to come up for a vote in the Senate Education Committee next week.
"This is not a Republican-versus-Democrat issue. This is not a conservative-versus-liberal issue. It is not a right-versus-left issue," said Julianne Thompson, leader of the Georgia Republican Assembly. "This is a right-versus-wrong issue."
Parent Tammy Slaton told the crowd that her children’s math homework convinced her that the standards were watered down.
"If these new standards are rigorous, that is certainly not the word I would choose," she said.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and its spinoff the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education held a rally in support of the Common Core the next day.
Let’s look at this contrast here. First the Stop Common Core rally.
Now the Chamber rally.
Stop Common Core in Georgia provided this contrast.
Here’s an overhead picture of the Stop Common Core rally that provides you a better contrast.
Education policy aside, politically speaking the Chamber just got blown out of the water. A couple of hundred moms and kids vs. a group of couple dozen mostly men wearing business suits. I know who would get my attention if I were a legislator.
Tanya Ditty wrote an summary of the event.
Over 200 concerned parents, students and citizens descended on the Georgia State Capitol today to send a message to Gov. Nathan Deal and Georgia legislators that Georgians want control of education returned to its citizens. Signs were in abundance, and all with a common theme, “No to Common Core.”
The event was co-sponsored by Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Georgia Legislative Action Committee and American Principles in Action. CWA State Director Tanya Ditty opened the press conference with a message to Gov. Deal – the Governor’s education legacy rests on his decision to support or oppose Common Core. Jane Robbins with American Principles in Action followed and outlined the amount of education that had been done on the Common Core, but still our elected officials continue to embrace the idea of nationalized standards and testing. Sen. William Ligon (R-Brunswick), sponsor of the Common Core withdrawal legislation, followed. Sen. Ligon has been the leading, and often the lone, voice against the federal power grab of Georgia’s education system.
The remaining speakers included a local school board member, parents, educators, and representatives of organizations. The resounding message from all the speakers was this, “These are our children, not yours. Return local control of education to Georgia!”
Also here is an interview with State Senator Ligon during the rally.
State Senator Ligon’s bills are SB 167 and SB 203.
Also Stop Common Core in Georgia also has published an open letter to Governor Nathan Deal that is very strong. You can check it out here or read below: