There has been some confusion about my beliefs as I am a member of the PTA. The National PTA has supported Common Core. I do not support Common Core and I am a member of the PTA. I am currently serving as the PTA treasurer at Riverview Elementary as well as the Westlake Council President-Elect in addition to being a PTA member at Vista Heights Middle School. I have been a member of the PTA for years because I support my children and their schools. I have worked locally with several PTAs and always been impressed by the parents, teachers, and other volunteers who work so tirelessly to advocate for children. I am proud to volunteer with some of the most amazing parents as they work to make our schools better. I love PTA and the friends I have made while volunteering.
That doesn't mean that I agree with everything the PTA does. Just because I am part of an organization does not mean that organization thinks for me. And I also don't mind making waves. Last year at the Utah PTA Convention at BYU, I attended a class taught by Otha Thornton, the National PTA President. I questioned him about Common Core as well as telling him that I did not support the PTA's stance on the issue. I served as the Utah Delegate for Mom Congress in 2012 and also told Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education that I saw serious flaws in the Common Core and was opposed to its implementation.
So, what is the answer? It is easy to shoot down Common Core, but what do we do instead? I am a believer in finding solutions, not just pinpointing problems. The Fordham Institute (which has been a large advocate of Common Core) assessed math and ELA standards by state. The math we were using previous to Common Core? We received an A-, the same grade given to the Common Core State Standards and Fordham actually stated that Utah math standards were more concise and more coherent than Common Core.
What solutions do you see in making sure our children receive an excellent education?
