PLUNKETT: #CommonCore in Mississippi: A History.

BY: B. Keith Plunkett @Keithplunkett

As mentioned in an article yesterday, the Common Core debate in Mississippi has come down to the fight over appropriations in the Mississippi Senate.

If you are a regular reader of Mississippi PEP then you know fighting to bring the truth of Common Core to the attention of Mississippi parents has been a focus for nearly 3 years now.

It all started with an article I wrote in September of 2011, just a few weeks after the launch of this website. By luck of the draw I was looking into the background of an individual coming to speak at a state Dept. of Education conference that month named Mark Tucker.

What I found, as is often the case in the type of policy and political research I do, was a reason to keep digging for more information. The beauty of the work I do is that there is always a new study to hash out, a new connection to be made and a new fact to be realized. (Yes. I’m one of those weird guys who enjoy research, reading policy analysis, and pouring through white papers and studies.)

In my decade of doing this I have never ceased to be amazed by the clear mountain of evidence that proves how inept government planning usually is, and how politicians take advantage of a disengaged public to fulfill their personal ambitions and to enrich themselves and their friends. My amazement is only rivaled by the sadness and anger I sometimes feel towards a largely disengaged public that allows this type of thing to continue.

Such is the case with Common Core.

I won’t go into further detail. Instead, I’ll offer up a timeline of events of our coverage over the past two and a half years and hope it offers some explanation of why we have arrived at the current fight.

If you find it as troubling as I do as a parent, I hope you will call your Representatives and Senators in Jackson today and tell them to stop Common Core by defunding it in this latest appropriations bill.

September 2011: PLUNKETT: Controversial author Marc Tucker to speak at MS Dept. of Education Statewide Forum Sept. 14

March 2013: TEA Party White Paper: The Case for Opting Out of Common Core

July 2013: Senate Conservatives say Common Core’s race-based standards a case of blatant discrimination.

July 2013: HILL: Mississippi Can Do Better Than Common-Core

July 2013: PLUNKETT: Common Core endangers innovation and choices in education.

August 2013: Mississippi PEP Managing Editor Keith Plunkett discusses the history of the creation of the Common Core Standards being implemented in Mississippi, and the dangers to parents, students and local school boards with JT on Supertalk.

August 2013: HILL: Senator Jones’ response to Common Core concerns loaded with falsehoods.

August 2013: Senate Conservatives want answers from MDE on Common Core, say money not standards drove adoption.

August 2013: PLUNKETT: Government school shill Nancy Loome comes out swinging for Common Core.

August 2013: FOX: Common Core, the ultimate government pyramid scheme

August 2013: PLUNKETT: Senator Watson calls out Daily Journal for bias, they respond by deleting evidence.

August 2013: WATSON: For Elected Officials who won’t roll up their sleeves– “shame on them”.

September 2013: Senate Conservatives meet with business and education leaders from Metro Area, more meetings planned across state.

September 2013: #CommonCore Confusion: Gulfport School District recommended for probation for improper testing.

September 2013: Lt. Gov. Reeves and MDE sponsor #CommonCore promotional event in Tupelo.

October 2013: CHAMBERS: Common Core Education in Mississippi

November 2013: CHAMBERS: Lt. Gov. Reeves and MDE continue to promote misinformation about #CommonCore.

December 2013: Was Gov. Bryant’s executive order a political move to slow down conservative opposition to #CommonCore?

January 2014: ANDERSON: Senator Chris Mcdaniel on Record Opposing #CommonCore

February 2014: Cochran and #CommonCore: For it before he was against it.

February 2014: CHAMBERS: Common Core Failed the Test

February 2014: McDaniel says conservatives fight against #CommonCore will continue.

February 2014: Board of Education OKs Common Core courses

March 2014: MUW to administer #CommonCore Mathematics training to local teachers.

March 2014: #CommonCore battle playing out in Mississippi Senate

About Keith: Keith Plunkett has worked on communications and policy issues with a range of public officials from aldermen to Congressmen, and a variety of businesses, governmental agencies and non-profits. He serves or has served as a board member of several non-profit, civic and political organizations. Contact him by going to HorizonMediaMarketing.com or follow him on Twitter @Keithplunkett