The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) continue to generate opinions on both sides of the public education conversation. A June 10 community forum to be held at the Sams Auditorium in Fayetteville will provide a venue for supporters and opponents to express their opinions and have their say.
The Common Core State Standards in math and English language arts is being implemented in Georgia’s public schools. CCSS was adopted by the Georgia State Board of Education in 2010, with classroom implementation beginning during last school year. Common Core was devised in cooperation with the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers and is being implemented in nearly all U.S. states.
But Common Core has detractors who question both its origin and its intent and maintain that federal intervention is behind the initiative.
The June 10 community forum will be co-hosted by the Fayette County Issues Tea Party and Take Action for Public Education (TAPE). State School Superintendent John Barge will also serve on the panel. The forum will be moderated by Clayton State University President Dr. James J. “Tim” Hynes.
“While the Fayette County Issues Tea Party and the TAPE group have not always seen eye to eye on how issues affecting our school system should be resolved, we all agree that the public needs an opportunity to hear information from a reliable source and express questions or concerns.” said TAPE representative Scott Hollowell. Hollowell unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Fayette County Board of Education last year.
Generally speaking, TAPE supports the Common Core curriculum, while some Tea Party members oppose its implementation.
For his part, Tea Party representative Bob Ross said co-hosting the event is in line with the organization’s goal.
“The Fayette County Issues Tea party goal is to make sure government officials are good stewards of our tax dollars and that elected officials operate in an ethical and transparent manner,” Ross said.
The community forum will begin at 7 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. Sams Auditorium is located at 205 Lafayette Avenue in Fayetteville.
