THROUGHOUT NH
Common Core Forum: September 17th @ St. Anselm's Institute of Politics
New Hampshire schools are beginning to follow another education reform called Common Core.
A few years ago, the New Hampshire Board of Education voted to adopt Common Core Standards in Math and English/Language Arts. Most people in the state did not realize this would fundamentally change their local schools.These are questions that many parents are beginning to ask.
- What does this mean for New Hampshire students?
- Does this impact private and home-schoolers?
- What is this going to cost the local taxpayers?
- Why are so many parents, teachers and legislators now opposing Common Core standards ?
- What about all of the private and personal data schools will now be collecting on children without parental consent?
As the Education Liaison for Cornerstone Action in New Hampshire, I've done extensive research on this new reform effort and after years of research, many questions still remain unanswered.
I've asked some of the leading experts around the country who have been vocalizing their opposition to come to New Hampshire and explain why Common Core is not a good education reform effort for New Hampshire schools.
I invite you to join us on Tuesday, September 17th at 7pm at St. Anselm's Institute of Politics. These experts will discuss the many problems with Common Core in our local schools. This is FREE and open to the public.
Listen to why Common Core has been criticized as a "national take over of public education". Look at how the Federal Government is threatening to withhold funding if schools do not evaluate teachers based on standardized test scores. The only two content experts (Dr. James Milgram and Dr. Sandra Stotsky) on the Common Core Validation Committee refused to sign off on the academic standards.
Dr. Milgram, Dr. Stotsky, and others have testified against adopting Common Core highlighting some of the problems as:
1) The math Common Core standards put U.S. students "two years behind their peers in high achieving countries,"
2) By 11th and 12th grade the reading requirement in English/Lang. Arts classes is only 30% literature, and 70% non-fiction including political documents; the reading standards are mediocre especially in grades 6-12, cursive (handwriting) is eliminated.
Please join the following experts to discuss Common Core:
Sandra Stotsky was professor of education reform at the University of Arkansas and held the 21st Century Chair in Teacher Quality. She served on the Common Core Validation Committee, from 2009-2010. She was one of the five members of the Validation Committee who would not sign off on the standards as being validated.
Jamie Gass is Pioneer Institute’s Director of the Center for School Reform. He has discussed and written about the problems with the Common Core national education standards, including their weaker academic quality, illegality, and significant costs.
Emmett McGroarty, Esq. is a Senior Fellow at the American Principles Project. He works to protect the natural rights of parents and to promote government policies that protect the innocence of children. Mr. McGroarty is one of the foremost experts on the details and effects of the Common Core Standards.
Bill Evers, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a member of the Institution’s Koret Task Force on K–12 Education, was the US assistant secretary of education for policy from 2007 to 2009. Evers has been a member of National Educational Research Policy and Priorities Board, a commissioner on the California State Academic Standards Commission.
SOUTHERN NH
Nackey S. Loeb School Offers Fall Classes
MANCHESTER - Free classes at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications this fall include three kinds of writing and a dose of photography for everyone from middle-schoolers to retirees.
The six-week session of Wednesday evening classes from Sept. 11 – Oct. 16 includes Feature Writing, Columns/Blogging, Editorial Writing and Photojournalism.
Feature Writing helps those who want to write more colorful and engaging stories. Taught by Steve Billingham, a former editor at The Eagle-Tribune, this course delves into using detail and good quotes to bring stories alive. Students must bring their own laptop. The class is offered from 7-8:30 p.m.
Citizen journalists, letter writers and anyone who likes to share observations or opinions online or in newspaper columns are invited to Columns/Blogging, taught by Nashua Telegraph columnist and blogger Stacy Milbouer and former Boston Globe columnist Tom Long. Stacy and Tom pass along tips on writing personal essays, columns and blogs. This class is more about content than technology. Personal laptops are useful, but not required. The class is offered from 5:30-7 p.m.
Marty Karlon, former Sunday editor and editorial board member at The Telegraph, teaches Editorial Writing. Thoughtful editorials that express informed opinions are essential in a democracy that depends on informed citizens. The class is offered 5:30-7 p.m.
Taught by veteran photographer Geoff Forester, Photojournalism helps students identify and use the elements of good feature and news photography. Through hands-on activities and assignments, students learn the skills of telling a story through photos and produce a photo essay. Students will need a digital SLR camera. The class is offered from 7-8:30 p.m.
All classes are free of charge to students of all ages.
Register at www.loebschool.org or by calling 627-0005.
The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications, Inc. admits students of any race, color, sex, age, religion, national and ethnic origin to all of the rights, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, disability, color, sex, age, religion, national and ethnic origin in administration of its education policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan program and other school administered programs.
I am offering a forensic science class in New Boston for science-oriented, science loving teens (13 - 16) who would like to develop experience conducting labs and writing reports. It will require at-home reading (handouts provided), some writing, and hopefully some interesting discussion based on this very interesting textbook. While I will bear the greatest part of the expense, I would like to ask $15/ participant to help offset materials cost. I expect it would take 20 weeks to complete, meeting once a week. Fridays are ideal for us, but Thursdays are also an option.
NORTHERN NH
New Homeschool Group
News from Relaxed Homeschoolers of New Hampshire!
Jenn has started a new Group: Relaxed of Upper Valley (RUV)
If you're looking to forge new friendships and live near the Upper Valley, head on over to the group page for Relaxed of Upper Valley (RUV).
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SEACOAST AREA
Nottinschool is Back!Come join us if you are Not-in-school and can, at "Nottinschool" in Nottingham on Fridays, anytime between 12 and 3! Use and enjoy the indoor space of a gym complete with tumbling mats, basketball hoops, tables and chairs- as well as an outdoor playground/picnic tables plus an area down by the river. Baseball diamond as well...
Come and interact- chat, learn and play with other home/non-schoolers in a laid back environment.
Hope to see you there!
139 Stage Road, Nottingham (Rt 152 is Stage Road)
***PLEASE NOTE***
If Nottingham schools are on vacation or canceled due to weather, we will not meet. There are also typically a few additional Fridays where other groups have the space reserved and we don't have the gym but could use the outdoors. Check SHL Inbox for messages regarding a cancellation or call Sarah at (603) 770-4953.
MIT Flashlight Building Class
Hi Everyone,
I reserved Oct. 8 for ME/NH Seacoast Homeschoolers to participate in the flashlight building class at MIT's Edgerton Center in Cambridge, MA.
This class is free. Their website suggests reserving a $20 parking space ahead of time, but we have always been able to find metered street parking within a few blocks of the building.
The class meets from 9:30 to 12:30, with a lunch break in the middle. Your child(ren) will need to bring their own lunch. This class is only for ages 9 and up.
Here is the link to the class description:
http://web.mit.edu/edgerton/outreach/ACT_FB.html
Here is the link to driving directions: http://web.mit.edu/edgerton/www/Directions.html
Email me (juleekatzman@gmail.com) if you would like to join us. We have room for up to 24 kids!
~Julee
