Nevada County, CA — The local Nevada County blogosphere is actively debating the merits or vices of the Common Core education standards. From the official Common Core website:
“The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do by the end of each grade. The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live. Forty-three states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have voluntarily adopted and are moving forward with the Common Core.”
In a flurry of negative commentary from local right-wing bloggers, most complaints seem to stem from the fact that these standards have the word “common” in them. This term tends to run against the conservative, Horatio Alger mantra of a self-determining, rags-to-riches, tremendous asshole-like person.
“If it’s for the common good, it’s gotta be bad,” commented a blog poster. The same blog poster mentioned the word “Benghazi” 14 times and also complained about border security in New Mexico.
The general conservative consensus is that No Child left Behind has a “Lassie Come Home” feel to it which makes it seem safer, evoking feelings of a more austere, Leave It to Beaver America. Common Core, on the other hand, sounds more urban and welfare state-like.
In one blog post, a prominent local blogger suggested a simpler solution. “We just need to get back to the good old days of No Child Left Behind, when Republican ran things good” said a Nevada City, CA conservatarian blogger. “Then we can just get rid of all this collectivist liberal crap,” he continued.
Calls and emails to Mao Tse-tung, Joseph Stalin, and the Khmer Rouge, requesting further comment on Common Core, were not returned. What are they hiding?
