The North Carolina NAACP and the Forward Together Movement Compliment Gov. Pat McCrory on Opposing Full Repeal of Common Core Standards and Encourage Him to Stand with Educators in Supporting This Curriculum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 6, 2014

 

Contact: Sarah Bufkin, NC NAACP - smbufkin@gmail.com or 404.285.3413

 

 

The North Carolina NAACP and the Forward Together Movement Compliment Gov. Pat McCrory on Opposing Full Repeal of Common Core Standards and Encourage Him to Stand with Educators in Supporting This Curriculum 

 

 

RALEIGH - The Common Core standards - a national program that aims to provide an in-depth, challenging curricula for math and language arts skills - are on the brink of being voted out of North Carolina's public schools, a move that is contrary to what educators, the business community and many parents believe is best for our kids. 

 

Senate Leader Phil Berger and the NC Senate voted Thursday to create a commission to review the Common Core standards for possible changes. The 33-15 vote came a day after the NC House, led by Speaker Thom Tillis, voted to repeal the standards entirely. Now the state legislature will have to find a way to meld the two bills. 

 

Gov. Pat McCrory, in a rare but applauded move, broke with the extremists in his party to voice support for the Common Core standards, although he did recognize that they would need some revision to be made more effective. 

 

From the News & Observer:

"McCrory on Thursday said anything that weakens the current standards is 'not a smart move.'

 

"'There are things we need to correct and recognize,' he said, citing concerns with implementation and testing in remarks at a Raleigh meeting of the N.C. Business Committee for Education, a group that supports the standards. 'But again, you don't just throw out the whole thing if you have some minor issues you need to fix.'"

The North Carolina NAACP and the Forward Together Moral Movement commend Gov. McCrory for his support of the Common Core standards over and against the extremists in his party that would look to turn back the clock on our schools. 

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, president of the North Carolina NAACP, made the following statement in regard to the Senate and House votes on Common Core as well as Gov. McCrory's response:

"We applaud Gov. McCrory for his stand in support of Common Core standards in public education. It makes sense to focus on math and language arts through problem-solving and critical thinking. Common Core's emphasis on fundamental mathematical concepts applied in real-life situations makes sense. Its language arts focus on nonfiction and on literacy in history, science and social studies promises a more rigorous basic education. To move from an emphasis on rote memorization toward conceptual understanding is to create a stronger platform for lifelong learning, not just the next test. It is not surprising that both business and educational leaders support Common Core.

  

"Our purpose here, however, is not to praise what undoubtedly is a worthy but imperfect new educational approach but to express our support for Gov. McCrory's brave and independent decision to defend Common Core even in the face of opposition from much of his party. We encourage him to go on to support repeal of the huge education cuts that he has supported in the past, cuts that chop the core and heart out of our public school programs. We will stand with him as far as he goes to ensure the rights of all students under the North Carolina Constitution to a sound basic education."

 

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