TN Common Core Critics Turn To Social Studies With Math And Reading Standards In Place

It’s been primarily conservative groups protesting Common Core. This is a photo from a Sacramento protest. Many see the standards as a federal take over of the education system. Credit: Steve Rhodes via Flickr

Conservative activists say there’s plenty to dislike about Common Core math and reading standards now in place in Tennessee. But they have even more objections with science and history.

The social studies standards take effect in 2014, and Hal Rounds of Somerville says he sees a clear point of view that disagrees with his own philosophy.

“If you look at what they say about capitalism, in some cases, they say that capitalism allows people free choice but ends up in unequal distribution, as though that were bad.”

Education officials say critics are confusing the standards for specific curriculum, which is still chosen by each local school board. However, one new standard in economics is worded this way: “compare the characteristics of capitalist and socialist systems in terms of their strengths and weaknesses.”

Rounds says he and dozens of others have a list of grievances they hope to lay out when Tennessee lawmakers hold a special two-day hearing on Common Core this week.