The following comes from an Oct. 9 story in Catholic San Francisco.
See “The federal takeover of Catholic education” (Cal Catholic, Oct. 16).
California Catholic schools superintendents are implementing the new national academic standards but with a big difference – Catholic schools’ mandate to teach the Gospel and Catholic principles of faith and social justice are integrated into the new curriculum.
“All we do in Catholic schools is within the context of our individual and communal relationship with Jesus Christ and all that is taught in Catholic schools is from a Catholic worldview and infused with strong Catholic identity,” said the 12 California Catholic schools superintendents in a statement.
The Catholic Common Core addition – a national project entitled the Common Core Catholic Identity Initiative –will give secondary and elementary school educators the tools to integrate Catholic faith into the Common Core, according to the statement by the Catholic schools superintendents.
The Common Core State Standards, accepted by 45 states including California, are the result of collaboration by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers that began in 2009. All California public schools are required to implement the Common Core standards.
All 12 California Catholic dioceses and archdioceses have chosen to implement the Common Core academic standards for English and mathematics in grades K-12, the superintendents said in their August statement. Since California enacted state education standards in 1997, Catholic schools have followed state standards but they have never been required to do so by law. They still are not, the superintendents said in their statement.
“While the Common Core State Standards were created primarily for public schools, we have concluded after much research, thought and discussion that the rigor and clarity they provide will benefit our Catholic school students and will allow them a better opportunity to excel at a high academic level,” they wrote.
The Common Core will be central to the college admissions process, including admission to the University of California, so assuring that Catholic school students can demonstrate that they meet those standards is important to their success, the superintendents said.
“We want our kids to be at the top of the class, able to take on the next step,” said Archdiocese of San Francisco schools Superintendent Maureen Huntington.
Archdiocesan schools have begun implementing the mathematics portion of the Common Core in the classroom and will begin studying the English language arts portion next year, perhaps taking as long as five years to put the new standards for English in place, Huntington said.
The Common Core approach is less textbook driven, will require more ability to read factual social studies and scientific texts, requires more writing and analysis, and also will include more practical applications of mathematics as well as greater use of digital and multimedia technology.
What Catholic school children learn will not change too much, said Huntington, adding much of the change will be in broadening the ways students can demonstrate what they learn to include more project and report based assessments….
To read the entire story, click here.
“All we do in Catholic schools is within the context of our individual and communal relationship with Jesus Christ and all that is taught in Catholic schools is from a Catholic worldview and infused with strong Catholic identity.”
Do they expect us to believe that? None of my parish priest friends would make such a bald assertion. Of course, the dirty secret is that few of the parish priests being ordained nowadays in California came from the Catholic school system. We are “publics,” homeschooled, or from another country.
God bless you, Father, but yes “They” do expect you to believe that and to repeat it over and over with a smile. As if doing so will somehow make what they say true.
It’s just like party politics. Spout the line or else you’ll get black balled or branded as a malcontent. Truth doesn’t matter. It’s all about the current slant and sounding positive!
Correction, Father. Since you are an obvious insider, ‘they’ do not expect YOU to believe what is being said, but rather to hop on board so that enrollment in Catholic schools (that is by Catholics) won’t dip further than it already has.
California Catholic Schools – A GREAT Place to lose the Faith!!!!
There is no place where FrMichael goes where the Faith will be lost. It does not matter if there is not faith when he arrives. Faith will be there when he is there and it will remain when he leaves. God gives amazing graces to priests, especially those who pray the Rosary and are consecrated to the Immaculate Heart. It is a funny thing that where the pious are few, their light shines brighter.
That is very true about the graces given to those faithful priests who pray the Rosary, k. But don’t kid yourself. Grace and the transmission of it requires consistency and correspondence to said grace. By both priests and faithful.
And when grace is gagged – as it often is in Catholic schools when faithful priests show their faithfulness – they are summarily silenced, moved, and/or marginalized.
That’s why Our Lord said to his apostles when he sent them out to preach – and this is a paraphrase – “…If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.”
Sadly, many Catholics do this to their own and far too often. That’s why I commented as I did above.
Ann Malley, you said you don’t even go to a Catholic Church most of the time. How would you even know what goes on in the Catholic schools? There are about 7000 of them. It is a fallacy to think that one story in one school can be generalized onto all of them. Catholic priests get moved. That is their life. People don’t get marginalized for being Catholic. You, as someone who has decided that the post-Vatican II church is not correct and who says that you don’t accept Frances as the Pope, will be silenced and marginalized if you try to teach that in a Catholic school. Because it is contrary to the Catholic Faith. Don’t expect to be able to teach false things about the Mass in a Catholic school. You will not be welcome.
Calm down, k. Nobody – especially me – has said that I don’t attend Catholic Churches. And nobody – especially me – has said that I don’t accept Pope Francis (that’s with an ‘i’, ‘e’ indicates the feminine) as the pope.
As to teaching false things about the ‘mass’, you should study aspects of the mass yourself – that is without relying on me, hearsay, half-truths, and the preaching of those who would have you adopt the modern doctrine hook, line, and sinker.
Why do you think here is such controversy on this very website about our Catholic ‘leaders’ misleading us? And yes, people do get marginalized for speaking Catholic truth. Try doing as much – after studying some yourself – and see where it gets you, k.
That said, with upward of 7000 schools, how is that you know what is going on? You don’t, k. And that often is the problem.
Ann Malley, again on another article, you said that you would never attend a “Novus Ordo” mass again and that you attend SSPX and Independent Masses and if necessary, FSSP. You did not say that you attend diocesan approved TLMs. FSSP Masses are held in Catholic Churches; SSPX and Independent are not and can not be held in Catholic Churches. I am not trying to be contentious or pick on you. And again, I am sorry if I misunderstood. About the 7000 schools-innocent until proven guilty. I do not, as you say, know what goes on in all the schools, however, justice and charity demand that one think the best of someone or something unless there is firm evidence to the contrary. However, I think it would be safe to say that they do not teach the Faith in the manner that you would. They don’t teach it the way I taught it either. We started with daily Mass, then prayer including learning the basic prayers in Latin, then Bible Reading from Old and New Testaments and the Psalms with Bible Memory, Saint of the Day and then Catechism. We used Baltimore Catechism and the Faith and Life series. We did a lot of Works of Mercy, too. Our religion was done first and it took about 90 minutes in addition to the hour at Mass.
I do not ascribe to the party line regarding the SSPX and Independent Traditional masses, k. Not all Bishops, Cardinals, and Popes do/did either. But that is an entirely different can of worms and worms they are, k.
But as you say, ‘…charity and justice demand that one think the best of someone or something unless there is firm evidence to the contrary.” Solid evidence and experience leads me away from the Novus Ordo – as the new order has definitely produced fruits of a new order, much of which is lamented right here on this forum.
Why? Because it confuses, misguides, pulls punches, keeps silent, is liberal to a fault, etc, etc. etc. Not to say that there aren’t those that find their way there – but that is certainly not true of my logic seeking brain.
So in saying that “…they do not teach the Faith in the manner that you would.” k. more often they do not teach the FAITH as it has always been held. And that in its fullness.
Do what works for your family, but I opt to go where the Truth is and not to those places where I need to leave during sermons, reteach the Catechism because of a lack or disparity of the supposed teaching authority, and/or explain the myriad displays at mass that serve only to distract from the sacrificial reality. To such an extent that one – over time – believes themselves to be at a Protestant meal/service and finds nothing wrong with it.
The old saying, ‘You are what you eat,’ is true for more than just food.
Approved Message of Our Lady of Akita, Japan.
“As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never have seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests.
“The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres…churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.
“The demon will be especially implacable against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them”
“With courage, speak to your superior. He will know how to encourage each one of you to pray and to accomplish works of reparation. It is Bishop Ito who directs your community. You still have something to ask? Today is the last time I will speak to you in living voice. From now on, you will obey the one sent to you and your superior. Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able still to save you from the calamities which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved.” End of last message of Our Lady of Akita
Well said, Catherine!
You are, of course, correct. When parents don’t believe that SSM and abortion is wrong, their children likely will likely concur through their school years, at least. I know of teachers and principals of Catholic schools who believe that these (and other) things are all right, too. Trying to teach what the Church teaches puts other teachers at risk – of being ostracized as a minimum or losing their jobs (and you can’t depend on a pastor to stand with you either).
It depends on what school you go to. Some are stronger than others. Just like some teachers are better than others. As a whole, our experience with 6 different Catholic schools has been that there is a very strong emphasis on Jesus Christ and His teachings adapted as they are for grade appropriateness. Strong emphasis on Christian charity toward other students and to the needy. Strong emphasis on respect for teachers, parents, clergy and other adults. Strong emphasis on gratitude for blessings. What varies- devotion to Mary and the Saints. Number of times students attend daily Mass. Secular reading materials in Language Arts and History. How Genesis 1-3 is taught. (Some kids hear one thing in religion class and another in Science.) Sports emphasis. Some schools permit behavior that other schools forbid. Depends on the region and the principal. Weakest area in all the schools has been on teaching kids prayer.
FrMichael, they are really not that bad. And they always can use help. Donations. Volunteer. They love it when priests come to visit. Pray and work.
k,
Just who and what is this “they” you are referring to in your poor attempt to defend the un-defensible?
May God have mercy on an amoral America! Viva Cristo Rey! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher
Catholic schools.
k writes, “Fr. Michael, they are really not that bad.”
k, Please stop lying, enabling and undermining. You also thought that a lesbian play at a Catholic University called “Stop Kiss” was really not that bad because you had read that it was a play about anti-bullying. Our k/anonymous and roving trolls certainly want to silence more good men.
It is really bad when Catholic school teachers are dismissed for simply teaching what the Catholic Church teaches. One honest Orange County Catholic high school principal reluctantly admitted to a teacher that for the last 15 + years the high school’s good Catholic reputation was only running on the faint fumes of the past. Goodbye Good Men did not just take place in our seminaries. Good Bye Good teachers has and is still taking place in many of our Catholic schools. There are many Catholic schools who do not want teachers who know and teach the faith. Many Catholic schools are far more concerned about losing big tuition paying parents instead of being concerned about teaching the “common core truths” of the Catholic faith.
I’ll take your word for it. You live there. You have money. Why haven’t you done something? Did you send your kids to public schools?
Oh and 250 words is not enough for me to rant about those who mis-educate in the faith. You know I’ve ranted about that before. But what I have learned is that God reveals these things to a person who knows they are wrong, not so the person can get upset and talk about how bad things are (which I have been guilty of…a lot) but so that the person can correct the error. It is difficult if they heard the error from a source of authority or someone they trust. God sometimes provides an opportunity for a person in authority to be told of the error. Normally, I don’t like any ad-libbing in Mass but we had one priest who when he became aware that some of the parishioners though that the Blessed Sacrament was symbolic, began to add “This IS JESUS CHRIST, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Stay awake and watch for God’s direction.
I wrote a post about how I agreed with you that some elements of the Creed were not being taught. I think it may not have gone through. The parts I said were ill taught are the Trinity, the Communion of Saints and the Resurrection of the Body. Jesus and His Teachings are usually well covered. Sorry if you see both posts for being redundant. I beg you to treat me kindly. I am kind of tired of the pain of having things I wrote years ago be twisted to make it seem like I am a gay advocate or unfaithful Catholic. I am neither. You have no idea how hurtful your comments are.
Depends on your standards, k. A frozen T.V. dinner isn’t all that bad when you’re really hungry. But it’s not what you’d advocate for your children if you had the resources to offer them real, home cooked food. Or remembered what real food actually tasted like.
As to ‘…loving it when priests come to visit.” Visiting isn’t the point. Neither is praying and/or working as Fr. Karl is likely doing both in spades (with the added savor of suffrage.) Speaking the Truth is what is needed and it is precisely that which is poo-pooed. Just look at the uproar of academia at the horror of Catholic Universities pulling the plug on elective abortion coverage – something that was previously allowed under the perverse blanket of social justice.
So yes, prayer is needed, but prayer aimed at softening the hearts of so called Catholics so that they will actually pursue that which is Catholic instead of the mind-numbing pandering to every ideology under the sun save that of Christ Jesus.
“Speaking the Truth is what is needed and it is precisely that which is poo-pooed.”
Ann Malley, That is precisely what is needed. Speaking the Truth. People who are open to listening are immediately drawn to the beautiful simplistic Truths of the Catholic faith but if you have another agenda then that Truth needs to be quickly eradicated because it will impede the progress of a false agenda that has absolutely nothing to do with the salvation of souls.
Today many Catholic schools do not value, teach or uphold the “full” Truths of the Catholic faith. The Truths of our faith are often received like the little un-welcomed gopher popping up for a breath of fresh air on your front lawn. It is immediately stomped down and deliberately flushed out. The Truths of our faith are so illuminating and clear that if a person is shown them in the right manner it is like offering dew drops of nectar to an inquisitive little bee. The dirty little secret in many a diocese is that if the teacher is well formed and passionate about teaching the faith, then the powers that be will often call out the *pest control* to snuff out and exterminate any Truth that may prick the consciences of those who hear it. I am not talking about people who do not know what the Church teaches. These are individuals who are at odds with Church teaching so agendas, money and friendships all trump the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church.
As a former homeschooler, I know exactly where you are coming from. But when we put my son in school, we found that a lot of the teachers are better Catholics than the homeschooling crowd thinks. I understand you to be a traditionalist Catholic who returned to the Church after 27 years and does not support Pope Frances or the post Vatican II changes so you would have to homeschool unless there was a school run by traditionalists like Our Lady Help of Christians in Orange County. There are others. A traditionalist would not like the Catholic schools run by dioceses.
Another attribute of Truth, Catherine, is that it is highly logical. But many folks, thanks to the softness of modern life, often prefer emotion which clouds thinking and leads to all manner of error and long term, generational suffering. And loss of what others had to work so hard to achieve.
That’s why times of persecution and martyrdom are necessary and fruitful. When life is underscored with the very real possibility of death, there is little time wasted on sentimentality or what ifs.
Do what works best for your family, k. I well understand the ‘HUGE RELIEF’ of finally getting your homeschooled kids back into a regular school situation. And the subsequent ‘not-so-bad’ mentality that goes along with letting go. My kids are older -the youngest is now off at boarding school for high school.
Deo gratias!
As for me not supporting Pope Francis, of course I support him. I support him in the same way in which I support my husband in being the solid, foundational Head of the family that he is called to be. That said, if confusing things spew forth from his mouth (which has happened), I would have to correct them with respect to my children as that is my duty.
That, k, is watching someone’s back. Not precisely the sheep like obedience that has a person thinking “Gee, maybe I am obsessed with telling those who ask that I find abortion to be wrong or homosexual sex, unnatural.” Being Catholic doesn’t mean being blind, unthinking, or swaying like a wind in Class 5 Tornado.
Novus Ordo Catholic School is precisely what led to my leaving the Church. Why? Because the mismash of supposed doctrine was making a farce of everything taught before. For example: A Catholic nun informed a mixed class of 14 year old hormonal teens that fornication wasn’t a mortal sin. Very specifically, k. There are a ton of other examples, but I won’t waste your time.
You have found what works for you. Great! But I couldn’t in good conscience, or any conscience, expose my kids to such heterodoxy.
I would still be homeschooling, but in submission to my husband, I had to put my son in school. We went through a heterodox situation at my parish some years ago and I completely understand how upsetting and frustrating it is. I had to stand up for the faith a lot. I sat in my kid’s First Communion Class and I had to bring orthodox materials to the teacher and correct the teacher sometimes. (The materials were not heterodox, they were just vapid. The teacher was open to correction. She really wanted to teach the right thing-she just didn’t know it.) I made sure the DRE and pastor knew what the situations were. The mishmash of falsity and truth is a sign of the devil. The pastor needs to be alerted; the principal needs to be complained to (yes, I do know that makes you the parent they hate to see coming. Go anyway.) If it is excused, you need to go further. I think you did the correct thing by homeschooling. I wanted a certain type of Catholic-infused education for my son and for him to attend Mass daily. For that I had to homeschool him. I may have misunderstood your post that said that you “pray for the Pope- not, the Jesuit Beroglio” on another thread. Sorry if I have misunderstood you. I saw it on this page. https://cal-catholic.com/wordpress/2013/10/03/fun-to-be-catholic-again/ God bless you and your family.
Thanks for the clarification, k. I very much appreciate it. That said, good on you for sticking up for that which is Catholic. Being faithful is becoming somewhat of a heroic virtue. Including being a faithful, Catholic wife.
Regarding the ‘…the Jesuit Beroglio,” comment, the use of the Pope’s given name is usually the mark of a Sedevecantist – at least in my experience . Those I have known called previous popes: Ratzinger, Wojtyla, Roncalli. That is why I stated that I pray for the Pope – meaning I acknowledge his position.
Still, I do not judge Sedevecantists. There is so much scandal, it is a wonder and a gift that there is Faith at all. I’m just glad to have the graces that have come my way. And I pray for the grace to keep corresponding to them.
God bless you and your family, k.
k, I have been heavily involved in the parochial schools at the parishes at which I have worked. Some of been highly Catholic, others have needed a lot of work to get there. But we have to recognize that a large percentage of the administration and teachers, coming from poorly cathechized generations themselves, know little of the Catholic Faith themselves. And going to a Catholic universities in this state have been of NO help when it comes to the Catholic Faith. Most teachers in my experience are heavily dependent on the textbooks and many cannot speak passionately of God and His Church since they themselves have weak faith lives. To their credit, some have recognized their weakness in this regard and have welcomed a lifeline when provided by a sympathetic priest. Then there are others who resent a priest presence in the classrooms. These have their enablers in the diocesan departments of education in this state who have been busy ensuring the separation of school and parish.
And then there are the Catholic high schools, which make most parochial schools look like paragons of virtue!
Father, we must be in the same diocese. Most of the teachers have gone to LMU and will admit, if pressed, that they learned little.
The high school curriculum is more concerned with social justice – which might be okay if it wasn’t for the fact that most students have little idea of the Faith.
K-8 is a little better, but having better than the national average ACRE religion tests, instruction in basic Latin, the Deadly Sins, the Theological Virtues, Transubstantiation, St. Thomas Aquinas (Quinque Viae) and St. Augustine (Confessions) were for naught. I also required my 8th grade students to read a piece of literature that deals with our Faith (The Keys of the Kingdom).
None of this mattered for I was too conservative in religion (told to me by a pastor) – I had strayed from the touchy-feely under a principal that: thought Catholics “worship” Mary too much; the classrooms were too Catholic looking; had little knowledge of Catholic prayers (e.g., didn’t know what the Memorare was), etc, etc, etc.
Bob, you sound like a dream come true. I’d be glad to have my kid in your class.
FrMichael, I hope things will improve. Many teachers in Catholic Schools are not Catholic. I believe you about the weak faith lives and the resistance to a priest. My experience is that teaching is one of the professions that attracts narcissists with it’s “changing lives, impacting the future” vibe. Narcissists are not open to suggestions because they interpret it as criticism which is extremely painful to them. Thanks for all you do. We’ll keep praying.
k writes “My experience is that teaching is one of the professions that attracts narcissists with it’s “changing lives, impacting the future” vibe. Narcissists are not open to suggestions because they interpret it as criticism which is extremely painful to them.” = Translation… Rancid baloney…..Definitely not someone in pain, but someone who runs quick interference for bad causes so others have to keep experiencing pain.
This roaming k/anonymous did not seem to mind the pain that the drag show at USD caused. When asked why he/she did not post a supportive comment on the courageous defense of the faith by Chuck LiMandri who fought against this taking place, k responded Ohh I was too busy and didn’t see that ….SURE! It looks like k would also consider Charles LiMandri a narcissist for having a backbone and for defending the Catholic faith.
Every time I tried to post a comment that condemned having the drag show at UCD, it never got published. CCD has changed since those days. I supported Charles LiMandri and I was out of town at the time of the particular quote that you questioned me about. I also do not support the showing of plays like STOP KISS. I oppose health care coverage for abortion, contraception, sterilization, transgender surgery and every other “medical practice” that is sinful.
I am truly appalled that you responded the way you did.
“I am truly appalled that you responded the way you did.’
No you are not. BTW You also ran interference for the anti-Catholic homosexual website called Bilgrimage. That didn’t appall me because it followed the same duplicitous pattern that you are still denying.
You see, k, here is where you break down and admit that there is need for improvement, not to mention the ‘reality’ that not all is rosy and Catholic in Catholic schools:
“…Fr. Michael, I hope things will improve. Many teachers in Catholic Schools are not Catholic. I believe you about the weak faith lives and the resistance to a priest.”
Thank you for listening to Fr. Michael regarding the actual state of things instead of taking a defensive position just because I opt for the Traditional mass and teachings…out of necessity.
It’s precisely that combative attitude that precludes any fruitful discussion and practical solution on the diocesan level regarding the failed fruits of Vatican II and perceived Social Justice as taught in Catholic schools.
Here’s to a more transparent dialogue.
“What will change” (through constant testing), will be a broadening of the ways students demonstrate…their newly acquired knowledge. Translated this means that intellectual, academic studies will be diverted to the practical, real time way in which students can demonstrate how they come to conclusions. In other words, as explained to me by a high school Principle, it is not what the children know, but how well they can demonstrate how they arrived at a conclusion, be it math, English or ethics. So, its not the answer, but the route to the answer, no matter whether the answer is correct, totally wrong or partially wrong. Don’t be surprised some day when your 10 year old says” I am (the child’s name) and I can do as I please.”
My kids didn’t need Common Core to come up with myriad false logic when trying to push a wrong answer (bad behavior) off as good and reasonable. It came rather naturally!
Having used the precursor to CC in math as a teacher, it is more a summary of how math works. In general, a class went like this:
Show a video (that may/may not be related); explain the math topic; show examples; work examples with students on board; give homework (no more than ten questions WITH answers); review next day; give quiz in which students pick one (1) question to do from hard, relatively hard and easy examples. The worst grade possible is 50% and you can’t spend more than two days (one preferred) on any one topic.
As with public schools, having too many failing students in a Catholic school brings increased attention on the teacher, because the school has spent too much money on the program and the fault couldn’t possibly be the system, now could it?
Unless colleges change their ways, when these students get there, they’ll all be in remedial math (does anyone remember New Math and a whole generation of students who can’t add?).
Common Core are educational standards. They are benchmarks that say what ability or skill a student should have achieved by the end of a grade level. One then can rate the student (or the class or the school or the district etc.) as at level, below level or above level. That could reflect on the students, the teachers, the teaching methods, the curricula, the materials. The curricula, the materials and the teaching methods are not prescribed. Common core does not tell teachers how to teach or how to grade. Common Core does not have a curricula or materials.
CC prompts another whole cottage industry though.
Look at: https://soe.lmu.edu/centers/cmast/mast/
Common Core – of Indoctrination – only this time its on Barry (Soetoro / Marshal Davis / ObamAcorn,,, Whoever the guy really is) and the Gaystapo Party Line.
Because after all – In an Age of Abomination, Tolerance Macht Frei
SEE
Take Action on the Co-ed Bathroom Bill TODAY!
Recently, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1266 into law in California. This law allows public school students to choose whichever athletic team they want to be on – no matter their gender, they can choose to be on the men’s or women’s team. Further, it allows public school students to choose the restrooms, showers and locker rooms of their choice – male or female.
AB 1266 contains no rules, standards or guidelines. There is no parental involvement required, nor a professional or medical assessment. All a student has to do under this law is claim a “gender identity” of the opposite sex. There is also no consideration for the interests of all students that would be affected. Privacy and security concerns of students are ignored.
We are taking action with a coalition of organizations to overturn the co-ed bathroom law! For more information, go to privacyforallstudents.com.
Advocates for Faith & Freedom is challenging churches to get involved in the referendum to overturn this horrible law for the sake of our children and grandchildren. With enough signatures, we can put this offensive new law on the ballot so that voters can decide to approve or reject this law.
Contact your pastor, priest or rabbi and ask if they would be willing to set up tables and encourage their congregation to sign petitions. We’ve written a memorandum to church leaders outlining the rights and restrictions of religious organizations in repealing AB 1266. You can download this memorandum here. Churches are allowed to do this!
Advocates’ Murrieta office is a Petition Distribution Center where you can pick-up petitions. Signed petitions can be delivered to our office by November 1st. We are located at:
24910 Las Brisas Road, Ste. 110
Murrieta, CA 92562
Or you may download the petitions from the website: http://www.privacyforallstudents.com and mail them by November 6th directly to:
Privacy for All Students
660 J Street, Ste. 250
Sacramento, CA 95814
If you are a registered voter, get a petition and gather signatures from as many concerned citizens, family, and friends as you can. (Very Important to Note: Be sure that everyone who signs the petition – up to 8 signatures – are all signing the petition from the same county they are registered in and no one signing may use a post office box as their address, otherwise the entire petition will be invalid.)
Please get involved today! We need 505,000 signatures by the first week of November.
Common Core are educational standards for math and language arts. It has nothing to do with being gay or transgender or school policies on using a restroom.
Michael Mc Dermott, the last time such a petition was going around, one of my relatives worked hard trying to get signatures and co operation from Catholic pastors and bishops to no avail, and I helped her by watching her children, etc. This time she signed the petition but just gave up trying to get any more, except perhaps from a few friends. My husband and I signed it, but quite frankly, those who should be backing it just seem to not care, and a lot of parents of public school children are immigrants, and many have not a clue as to what is going on in the field of education here. Quite frankly, I think some want to keep it that way.
I am sure her husband signed it, too, but they have decided to home school their children.
Fascinating that public standards of eduction policy — Things that may change but remain constant in their presence are seen as contentious new issues of government intrusion, but no one seems to be paying attention to the fact that it looks like the Gates Foundation — a private entity — is using its massive wealth to rewrite public policy, seemingly unfettered, to meet its own ideals. It’s basically acting as a governing body without any of the oversight. Even if the intention is good, that’s a bad dynamic.
Excellent point, Barnett. Follow the money trail and it is very telling. Kind of like the George Soros connection to U.S. politics and supposedly ‘Catholic’ organizations.
Thanks for the clarity!
The amount of money the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has contributed to the organizations that developed the Common Core Standards is staggering. Their purpose: to ensure that every US youth graduates from high school prepared to succeed in college.
I feel kind of sorry for the Gate’s because they probably have just poured all that money down a toilet. It doesn’t matter what the state standards are. The level of education in our country is poor and it isn’t going to get better by changing the standards. Two weeks before the state test, the teachers stop what they are teaching and drill the students on what will be on the test. I know a student who always takes 2 class periods to finish any test and they finished the state tests in less than an hour. I know a student who couldn’t pass a chapter test in algebra that passed the state test in algebra. Kids get better grades than they deserve because teacher’s put stupid extra credit problems on tests like “What’s your birthday?” Kid’s get better grades than they deserve because they bat their innocent eyes at a teacher and get more time to study or to finish the homework or write the paper. English teachers overlook spelling and grammatical errors when grading papers because it’s not fair to take off for that. Kids get a test grade of 100 averaged in if they bring in a paper signed by the parents that they have read the handbook. Universities no longer weight AP and Honors courses as they used to because they know that they may not really have been done at an advanced level. The difference between regular and honors courses is writing an extra paper. We need tougher teachers and tougher parents and tougher kids. And no one who has not mastered the subject should get an A grade.
If this subject interests you, you might like to read this:
https://www.homerhickam.com/educators/homer_letter.shtml
There’s no doubt the intentions of the Gates Foundation are good, but that doesn’t mean that the result will necessarily be. The Gates Foundation also believes that GMO crops, and Monsanto’s patent-driven hegemony and ruthless domination of the world’s agriculture is the answer to world hunger. That’s an issue of major contention. I don’t know enough about Common Core to have an opinion, but the presence of a handful of plutocrats manipulating the world to suit their ideology is troubling.
To that end, the GF isn’t all that different from the more brazenly political George Soros (or his evil twins, the Koch brothers).
I just find it sad that the public education system is so broken that its ceding control to private interests, however noble or innovative they intend to be. It’s a symptom of something seriously wrong.
Barnett writes on a faithful Catholic website, “There’s no doubt the intentions of the Gates Foundation are good, but that doesn’t mean that the result will necessarily be.”
Barnett has no doubt that wealthy people who NOW want to use their wealth to play God have good intentions.
Matthew 19:24 Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible
“And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” ….Abraham Lincoln
I don’t think you can question whether Bill Gates believes he’s doing good. He’s amassed one of the biggest fortunes in history, and is pledging half of it (and probably half his life) to an attempt to solve all the world’s problems. Compare that, say, to Carnegie, whose philanthropy attempted to redeem posthumously a reputation of a whole life of ruthless exploitation, or any number of Gilded Age figures who created aristocratic dynasties. Or Rupert Murdoch, who at 82 is still building an empire.
There is an element of playing God to it. And Bill Gates undoubtedly sees himself as a benevolent god. I totally agree that that’s highly troubling.
Philanthropy (especially on that scale) is less a solution to anything than a symptom of a larger issue of inequity. The solution is massive redistribution of wealth, IMO. :)
Well, if you see the world through a socialist lens, then you are right. However, Bill Gates has a different slant, it is using the ability to apply modern problem solving and engineering principles to the task of philanthropy. So far as I’m aware, this approach to philanthropy by Gates and others of his generation is unique to the philanthropic world, and he is already showing a LOT of traction about problems previously thought to be intractable. The shrinkage in global poverty, for example, is amazing. Can we credit him and his philanthro-bros? History will tell.
Read this….the decision is made:
The Common Core and California Catholic Schools
A Statement by the Superintendents of Catholic Schools in California
https://www.lpcs.net/ourpages/auto/2013/10/15/53939989/Core%20Curriculum%20Standards%20Statement%20from%20the%20Superintendents.pdf
You really make it appear really easy with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be actually one thing that I think I’d by no means understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely extensive for me. I am taking a look ahead for your next post, I will attempt to get the grasp of it!
Most of what you say is supprisingly precise and that makes me ponder why I had not looked at this in this light previously. Your piece truly did switch the light on for me personally as far as this subject goes. However there is one point I am not necessarily too comfy with so while I try to reconcile that with the actual core theme of the issue, allow me see exactly what the rest of your subscribers have to say.Very well done.
I am truly pleased to read this blog posts which carries lots of helpful information, thanks for providing these statistics.
It can be practically unthinkable to come across well-informed americans on this area, still, you seem like you know the things you’re indicating! Appreciate It
Larry T. Winters https://www.cheapspringbreaktrips2014.com
We are now in the sixth year of a political regime that has shown repeatedly it has contempt for Christians, especially Catholics. That in itself should be a warning to be cautious of anything coming out of Washington. Just because a program is new and highly promoted by the U.S. Dept. of Education does not necessarily make it something Catholics would want for their children. It has been reported in the news that in some public school board meetings, when parents have asked questions, those parents were forcibly removed from the meeting. From what I have read the Math is so convoluted that many college-educated parents are unable to help their children with the homework assignments. The Literature has a global, one-world political view that is unacceptable to many conservative parents. Be watchful.