◼ Mandatory Common Core tests in New York just happen to be full of corporate brand names - Daily Caller
Across the state of New York, this year’s Common Core English tests have reportedly featured a slew of brand-name products including iPod, Barbie, Mug Root Beer and Life Savers. For Nike, the tests even conveniently included the shoe company’s ubiquitous slogan: “Just Do It.”
The brands – and apparently even some of their familiar trademark symbols – appeared in tests questions for students ranging from third to eighth grades, reports The Post-Standard of Syracuse.
Over one million students were required to take the tests.
Parents, teachers and school administrators have speculated that the kid-friendly brand names are a new form of product placement.
Education materials behemoth Pearson, which has a $32 million five-year contract to develop New York’s Common Core-related tests, has barred teachers and school officials from disclosing the contents of the tests.
Students and parents are not so barred, though, and many have complained.
“‘Why are they trying to sell me something during the test?’” Long Island mother Deborah Poppe quoted her son as saying, according to Fox News. “He’s bright enough to realize that it was almost like a commercial.”
◼ Five things you need to know about Common Core - TavernKeepers
...Because it is unconstitutional and violates specific federal law for the Department of Education to create a national curriculum / standards, the work was done through non government organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Governor’s Association. The federal government in turn did what it does best, provided unfunded mandates to the states to drain money and then offered money back in return for adopting Common Core.
...Because it was created by these groups, they hold the copyright on the standards. They can change them at any time with the states having no ability to change them. At most, the states can add 15 percent new standards, but that is it. This control is achieved through the copyright and agreements from receipt of federal money such as Race to the Top.
