A reader shared the following email that was sent out recently to family, friends, and parishioners regarding Common Core, and the adaptation of it into our Catholic schools.
It is hard to understand why so much effort is being given to separate the wheat from the chaff to make these standards “fit” into Catholic education. Square peg. Round hole.
Feel free to use this letter for your own communications.
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Dear Friends,Please take a few moments to read through this email. It is very important to our children’s education and the future of Catholic schools. The last paragraph provides information on how we, as parents, can make our voices heard.We have been doing a lot of research into the Common Core State Standards, the ideology behind them, their development and implementation into public schools, and the “adaptation” of them into Catholic schools. We are very displeased with what we have learned. We are already seeing the results of this change manifesting in our school. We encourage you to do some research yourselves and find out more about what Common Core is and how it is affecting and will continue to affect our children.There is definitely not a lack of information online regarding this subject, but we would suggest that you begin your research with the Cardinal Newman Society website. As stated on their website, “Founded in 1993, the mission of The Cardinal Newman Society is to promote and defend faithful Catholic education.” If you search “common core” on their home page, you will find many helpful articles.
http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/HomePage/Aboutus.aspx
If you agree with us, and countless other parents around the country, you can take any or all of the actions listed below. Honestly, the more action we all take the better.
- The most efficient and probably fastest way to take action is to NOT support the Bishop’s Annual Lenten Appeal. A retired priest advised us that we are under no obligation to support the Lenten Appeal and that it could be a good way to make our displeasure known. We can fill out the envelope as usual, but instead of including a donation, write on the envelope, “I/We cannot support the Lenten Appeal until Common Core is taken out of our Catholic schools.” If you are concerned about hurting those in the community that benefit from the funds of the Lenten Appeal, you can still donate to those organizations directly. The money does not have to filter through the diocese.
- Write letters to or meet with your principal and/or pastor to express your concerns.
- Call or write to those at the diocese 717-657-4804:
- Fr. Quinlan, Secretary for Education
- Livia Riley, Superintendent of Schools (x228)
- Margaret Barrett, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Development (x230)
- Call or write to Bishop Gainer
- Make other Catholic school parents and grandparents aware of this issue and encourage them to take action as well. You can simply forward this email.
Thank your for taking the time to read this far. As we are constantly reminded by school and church leaders, “Parents are the first and best educators of their children.” We need to be their strongest advocates too.We would be happy to discuss this with anyone who would like to contact us.God Bless,
Happy Warrior 