Don’t Just Delay Common Core, Some Lawmakers Say: Repeal It

Since last week’s epic House maneuver to ram through a bill targeting Common Core, the legislature has tilted with numerous bills flailing at the school standards in place in Tennessee and most other states. (Photo via Brandy Shaul/flickr)

Legislative wrangling over the Common Core educational standards ramped up a notch Tuesday morning, with state lawmakers weighing a bill to back Tennessee out altogether from the grade-level benchmarks adopted by dozens of states.

The House Education Subcommittee heard an argument from a Pennsylvania speaker opposed to Common Core, saying it imposes mandates on what students must know.  At times the meeting grew contentious, with Rep. John DeBerry describing a “firestorm over Common Core.”  DeBerry acknowledged in the last week there’s been a groundswell among lawmakers, but said he wasn’t won over.

“What you did for me was solidify why I support Common Core.  Because for a minute there I was wondering: maybe I didn’t get it.  But now, what I see is that you don’t have faith in children.  You don’t have faith in the school system.  You don’t have faith in teachers.”

Rep. Rick Womick is sponsoring the push to discontinue use and go back to Tennessee’s own standards.  Womick doubts it’ll survive the subcommittee, which he says is stacked with Common Core supporters.

Last week House lawmakers passed an amended bill that would delay further implementation of Common Core—which is already in effect in Tennessee classrooms—and its companion test, called PARCC.  The arguments range from suggestions it dumbs down what’s taught in school to claims it amounts to a federal takeover.

Gov. Bill Haslam has opposed coming off the standards or delaying the test, and in response he quickly scheduled school visits in East, Middle and West Tennessee to tout Common Core.

To that, Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh issued this statement:

“We hope Governor Haslam uses this opportunity to actually speak with teachers, instead of speaking at them… For too long he and (Education) Commissioner (Kevin) Huffman have been ignoring and discounting teachers’ and parents’ concerns about the pace and scope of new education reforms.  Instead of attacking lawmakers, parents and teachers, the Haslam administration should bring all sides to the table to constructively address the legitimate concerns about the implementation and roll-out of Common Core and PARCC.”