[This article is a response to an editorial in The Augusta Chronicle]
Your editorial “Rotten to the core” (March 23) pointed out a truth that many news articles omit or gloss over – namely, that opposition to the national Common Core standards crosses partisan and ideological lines. That is one reason to remain optimistic about the prospect for eventual repeal, despite anti-Common Core bills stalling out recently in Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina.
The corporate and political bigwigs pushing for uniform national standards did not give up when their first attempt failed during the Clinton years. They continued to work behind the scenes through an organization they named Achieve Inc., and they were ready to push the cause hard again after the 2008 election of President Obama.
Americans who want to preserve local and parental control of education must be no less determined. They are winning some battles as several states follow Georgia’s lead and withdraw from the nationalized student assessments linked to Common Core, and others ponder delays or following Indiana’s path to repeal. As more and more Americans discover the nature of the one-size-fits-all education being foisted on their children’s schools without their knowledge or consent, broad-based opposition will continue to grow.
[Originally published by The Augusta Chronicle]
Robert Holland, a journalist and author who has championed school choice throughout his career, is a Heartland Institute Senior Fellow addressing education policy.
