What Would Peter Cannon Do About Common Core

I adamantly oppose Common Core standards and its associated testing and data collection. The Constitution does not authorize any role in education to the federal government. But the federal department of education applies intense pressure on states and school districts to adopt and implement national education standards, testing and data collection. 

Utah should create its own education standards and testing. We are smart enough to do it. We understand our values and our children better than national organizations do. And we care about our children more than politicians, bureaucrats and educators in Washington do.

Our Davis School District Superintendent has publicly declared in writing that Davis district does not teach to the common core standards. I have personally compared the eighth grade math standards in common core, Utah core and Davis DESK standards. Common core and Utah core standards are verbatim identical. Davis DESK standards are written in more abbreviated and simpler language but state the same requirements in the same sequence and organized in the same structure. It is false to say that eighth grade math standards in Davis DESK and common core are not the same. To call it by a different name and say we therefore do not teach common core is just disingenuous.

I value our constitutional right to be secure in our persons, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The federal education data collection program including state longitudinal data collection systems place us at extreme risk of having our personal data taken and tracked without our permission. I am alert to this danger and oppose release of personally identifiable education data outside our district without parental permission. 

If I were elected president of the Davis School Board, I would present a resolution for the board’s approval asking the state board of education to replace common core standards with standards created and approved by Utah educators and parents.

In this matter we must be courageous. When we stand against federal involvement in education, including common core standards, we will be threatened with the loss of federal funding. That could total 7-10% of our education funding. But we will save considerable expense by not having to jump through federal hoops. Some will say Utah deserves to receive its fair share of federal tax dollars. Long ago there may have been a fair share of the taxes we paid to the federal government. But today it is borrowed money. We should change our mindset and help the federal government borrow less to be given to us. 

Our whole country will have a stronger educational system when 50 states have 50 competing education systems each trying to be the best in its own way.