BALTIMORE, Md. - Signs claim the “Math is fuzzy,” and “It's about control, not education.”
"The federal government has control over the education of our kids and we want a say. We want our voices heard," said Jennifer Hicks, a parent who is protesting Common Core.
It's the Common Core State Standards, what caused about 50 people to protest in front of the state education building in Baltimore Monday morning, the start of American Education Week.
"We trust our teachers and we're wondering why the state Department of Education doesn't," Ann Miller, a parent who is protesting Common Core, said.
The group wants to raise awareness to what's being rolled out in Maryland's classrooms.
Del. Ron George, who is a Republican nominee for governor, wants to back track on what the state did years ago.
"The bills were passed back in 2009, but we had no standards written yet. We had no idea what it was you're voting for," said Del. George. "It actually requires higher achieving students in schools to be dumbed down to make a one-size fits all," he said.
Speaking of back tracking, Education Secretary Arne Duncan is apologizing for slamming "white suburban moms" saying they were pushing back against the new guidelines because they discovered their child isn't as brilliant as they thought.
"I think my wording, my phrasing, was a little clumsy and I apologize for that. But my basic point, obviously this was an hour-long conversation, is that we want to prepare all children to be successful in a globally competitive workforce," said Duncan.
But some parents and lawmakers argue education in inner cities should be different than suburban communities.
"We cannot go to our local school board about these standards," said Hicks.
A spokesman for the state Department of Education says the Common Core State Standards better prepare students for college or career after high school. Del. Ron George says a number of his colleagues will join him in crafting a bill to delay or stop Common Core.
Read more: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/baltimore_city/baltimore-rally-protests-the-common-core-state-standards-of-education#ixzz2mooXEBEP
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