Parents ask me all the time "what can we do?", "how can we stop Common Core?" At this point I can only be totally honest with people. There is a very simple answer. And it does not lay with our legislators. It rests with parents themselves. Common Core is not the problem it is a symptom of a much bigger problem that has been infiltrating our education system for years. Parents could bring this evil to it's knees. Parents have the power within themselves to fix the system. If just 25-30% of parents stood up and took control of their children and exercised their parental responsibilities we could implode the system. I am talking about home school or Christian Classical schools. So there is your answer and it is the only answer at this point. If you truly care about the future for your children you will evaluate your priorities and take control of your children's future. If you are Christian the bible makes it very clear who is responsible to educate your children and it is not the public/government school system. You can continue to waste your time fighting a system in which you have absolutely no control or you can exercise your parental rights to control your child's future while you still can.
Below is the PLAN B that we in Tennessee are implementing. We also include some resources to help get you started. If you are from out of state I recommend you research the Home School laws in your state. PLAN B has two components. A political component and a social component. Removing your children from public school is our main focus but we also want to put good people in local elected offices that support our stand on education and parental rights. We believe that local control of education must be fully implemented and to do this it will require legislation and a local government that will support the law once passed.
Our legislators have failed to listen to the people and instead took the lead from special interests with big checking accounts. So we have no choice but take matters into our own hands. PLAN B is officially under way.
STEP 1: Moms, Dads and educators that are against the federal control of education need to stand up and run for local office (School Board, City Council, County Commission)
STEP 2: Promote legislation to restore Local Control.
Together STEP 1 and STEP 2 will go along way to protect our children from the current system.
STEP 3: Take advantage of our mentor program to help parents transition from public school to home school
STEP 4: Help us to establish a plan to implement more Christian Classical schools in Tennessee (we are working on creating a manual on how to set up a CCS) I think many discouraged teachers could be the answer to this proposal. I am hoping they will see the loss of their current job as a teacher as an opportunity to turn around the system and open their own CCS.
CANNOT HOME SCHOOL OR AFFORD CHRISTIAN CLASSICAL PRIVATE SCHOOL??
STEP 5: If your child MUST remain in the public school system be sure to hand a letter to your principal opting your child out from ALL surveys. OPT OUT of high stakes testing (TCAP). Contact me for the process we are using in TN to OPT OUT.
STEP 6: Now that the College Board is rewriting the AP courses (History is complete and they not only rewrote the course they rewrote history) DO NOT sign your kids up for AP courses. The College Board makes its money from students registered in AP courses..........STARVE THE BEAST.
STEP 7: Be the parent the teachers hate to see coming. Ask to see EVERYTHING used in the instruction of your child. REFUSE high stakes testing, REFUSE ALL surveys, REFUSE AP courses. The GED-DAT-PSAT-AP courses are all being aligned with Common Core. The international test PISA is also being rewritten by Pearson to align with Common Core. Do you see what is happening. Common Core is a global program not an American program.
Remember when a child leaves the system it is a big blow to the schools bottom line. If talking won't convince them we are serious maybe seeing a hit to the bottom line will make them pay attention. But the ultimate goal is to get parents thinking about and acting upon a home school program.
Below is the PLAN B that we in Tennessee are implementing. We also include some resources to help get you started. If you are from out of state I recommend you research the Home School laws in your state. PLAN B has two components. A political component and a social component. Removing your children from public school is our main focus but we also want to put good people in local elected offices that support our stand on education and parental rights. We believe that local control of education must be fully implemented and to do this it will require legislation and a local government that will support the law once passed.
Our legislators have failed to listen to the people and instead took the lead from special interests with big checking accounts. So we have no choice but take matters into our own hands. PLAN B is officially under way.
STEP 1: Moms, Dads and educators that are against the federal control of education need to stand up and run for local office (School Board, City Council, County Commission)
STEP 2: Promote legislation to restore Local Control.
Together STEP 1 and STEP 2 will go along way to protect our children from the current system.
STEP 3: Take advantage of our mentor program to help parents transition from public school to home school
STEP 4: Help us to establish a plan to implement more Christian Classical schools in Tennessee (we are working on creating a manual on how to set up a CCS) I think many discouraged teachers could be the answer to this proposal. I am hoping they will see the loss of their current job as a teacher as an opportunity to turn around the system and open their own CCS.
CANNOT HOME SCHOOL OR AFFORD CHRISTIAN CLASSICAL PRIVATE SCHOOL??
STEP 5: If your child MUST remain in the public school system be sure to hand a letter to your principal opting your child out from ALL surveys. OPT OUT of high stakes testing (TCAP). Contact me for the process we are using in TN to OPT OUT.
STEP 6: Now that the College Board is rewriting the AP courses (History is complete and they not only rewrote the course they rewrote history) DO NOT sign your kids up for AP courses. The College Board makes its money from students registered in AP courses..........STARVE THE BEAST.
STEP 7: Be the parent the teachers hate to see coming. Ask to see EVERYTHING used in the instruction of your child. REFUSE high stakes testing, REFUSE ALL surveys, REFUSE AP courses. The GED-DAT-PSAT-AP courses are all being aligned with Common Core. The international test PISA is also being rewritten by Pearson to align with Common Core. Do you see what is happening. Common Core is a global program not an American program.
Remember when a child leaves the system it is a big blow to the schools bottom line. If talking won't convince them we are serious maybe seeing a hit to the bottom line will make them pay attention. But the ultimate goal is to get parents thinking about and acting upon a home school program.
It is obvious our state government is bought and paid for and even though the people of Tennessee have sent a very loud, clear message to Nashville they are doing as the special interests and Governor Haslam instruct them. We are left with no other choice. We MUST get our children out of the system.
The problem is the system is getting deeply embedded in every facet of education in order to make it literally impossible to get away from it. The link below provides a good resource to help the home school family make the right decisions when selecting courses. Even home school programs are being infiltrated by Common Core. We are hoping this website will help you determine how to avoid Common Core in your home school program.
THE EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM COALITION
The problem is the system is getting deeply embedded in every facet of education in order to make it literally impossible to get away from it. The link below provides a good resource to help the home school family make the right decisions when selecting courses. Even home school programs are being infiltrated by Common Core. We are hoping this website will help you determine how to avoid Common Core in your home school program.
THE EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM COALITION
Below is a list of TNACC members that currently home school or who have home schooled their children. These selfless volunteers have agreed to mentor other TNACC members that are considering home school but need support and mentoring. Please feel free to contact one or several of the people on the list. Check back often as our list grows daily.
Tennessee Home School Law 2013-2014
HSLDA
TN HOME SCHOOL MENTOR LIST (this is a list of TN moms that have volunteered to answer questions about home school and/or help you get started)
| home_school_mentor_list.docx |
Below is our list of Christian Classical Schools in Tennessee. This is a newly created list and we need more references. If you know of a Christian Classical school that is not on the list please send the information to me via our communication form on the HOME page.
| public_school_alternative_info.docx |
The file below is a list of 800 colleges and universities that do not require ACT-SAT. So do not be intimidated when you are told if your child does not comply with Common Core they will not be able to take the ACT-SAT. They do not need it to get into college.
| 800_colleges_.pdf |
CHRISTIAN CLASSICAL EDUCATION - If you are interested in starting a Christian Classical School attached below is Check List #1 on how to get started. This check list was created by a member of the Candies Creek Academy. She is working on creating Check List #2 that will provide insight on what to do once your church has approved the school. You can also see more on the website school praises.com
| checklist_1__schoolpraises.pdf |
See below for recommended home school programs and resources
Alpha-Phonics - Teach your child how to read phonetically instead of the destructive Look-Say method that teaches sight vocabulary instead of the phonetic structure of our words. Here is a video from Sam Blumenfeld which explains why so many people today cannot read. VIDEO
Robinson Curriculum - top rated program - this course was recommended by one of our TNACC home school parents
Classical Conversations - one of the top rated home school programs - also recommended by TNACC home school parents.
The Good and The Beautiful - offers pure and healthy reading materials. This program was created by singer Jenny Phillips
Franklin Classical - this is a recommended home school program by many Tennessee parents
Easy Peasy Homeschool - it is a great program and it is FREE......really FREE....no government strings attached.
Spark Academy of Nashville - this home school consortium was created by a TN teacher. Class size is limited so act fact.
FPE USA - top rated program - This course is not free but it is excellent
Ron Paul - You won't have to worry about Common Core in this course. The early years on this program are free.
Looking for an umbrella school (we do not recommend home schooling under your local LEA) here is the one recommended to me by many TN home school families HomeLife Academy
The Home School Resource Roadmap - This website is a comprehensive labor of love to keep home school parents informed about what home school resources are not aligned with Common Core.
Home School Wise - this site lists some home school programs some aligned to CC and some that are not. But always check for yourself because things do change.
Home School College USA - this website takes you from K-College and it is free. I have talked with the founder of this site at great length. She put her son through a 4 program in which he earned a business degree and it cost her $6500 total.
A Beka Academy - Christian School Video Programs - this program was recommended by a member. The parents used this program for Pre-K through Grade 12. Their son received a full 4 year scholarship to College so I felt it was a worth while program to add to our list.
Rutherford Tutorial Academy - tutorial school in which you can send you child 1-2 days per week. You pay a fee for these teachers. Some parents use these tutorial academies for old students. There are many tutorial academies in TN.
The difference between a Tutorial and a Co-op is that you pay for your child to attend a Tutorial. Co-op is when parents donate time to teach a group of children. You are not paid.
Gateway Christian - this is an umbrella school which provides guidance and testing for home school recommended by TN parents. When you sign up to an umbrella school you in essence are providing a private school education instead of a home school education. It is just semantics but being a private school mom affords certain benefits. You can be set up as a Private School instead of a home school. The only requirement is that you provide at least a certain number of hours (4 hours per day)
SonLight - a Christian home school program with a strong emphasis on reading. If you can read and comprehend what you read you can learn anything. It is the foundation for all learning.
Middle Tennessee Home Education Association - MTHEA - this is a recommended resource site. TN home school parents highly recommend becoming a member of this group. There is a fee. But they will provide a ton of help, support and resources.
Home School Legal Defense Association - provides legal counsel for home school issues
Successful-Home Schooling - everything you want to know about home schooling
Fair Test - this website lists over 800 colleges that do not require ACT or SAT.
The Charlotte Mason method of home schooling was also recommended by TN parents. Just google Charlotte Mason and several sites will pop up.
Apologia Science books are excellent advanced science books for home school children. And again TN parents recommend them to prepare children for courses of study that will require strong science study. Here is a site that sells them. You can google and find your own source. Apologia books
INDOCTRINATION - The movie
This is a MUST see movie. There is also a book that can be purchased. I have them both and I highly recommend them both. They also offer a home school program based on Christian principles. You can get a free INDOCTRINATION book when you send for the MB Home School Catalog