Common Core Forum in Merrick Draws Large Crowd

A group of parents and educators joined together this week and expressed their concerns on the Common Core initiative. A community forum on the matter was held at the Merrick Road Park Golf Course Clubhouse on Monday. 

Educational speakers focused on how Common Core, high stakes testing, the Annual Testing Performance Review (APPR), and how the sharing of a student's personal data can affect a child's educational experience. 

Joseph Rella, superintendent of the Comseqogue School District, started his presentation by asking the audience a question.

"How are your children doing?" he asked.

"Not good," many parents answered. 

"What are you going to do about it," Rella said. "Our children are being hurt by this initiative and children are suffering from anxiety and self-abusive behaviors. Not one word is spoken about the devastating affects this has on our children." 

Carol Burris, principal of South Side High School in Rockville Centre, said that the standards of the testing were not determined by educators.

"This is what I am most concerned about," she said. "Insist that the school boards not use Common Core."

Arnold Dodge, chairperson of the Department of Educational Leadership and Administration at LIU Post, agreed. 

"There is nothing wrong with standards, but the more we stress out our kids, the more we will get phony results," he said.

Jeanette Deutermann of Bellmore created the Facebook page Long Island Opt Info last year. 

She said that many parents have told her that the testing have caused children anxiety, stress, depression and lack of sleep. 

Deutermann told parents that they have a right to pull their children out of testing  because  the  Common Core curriculum is not benefiting students. She also said that a good amount of classroom time is spent preparing children for the testing.

"We have to start thinking about what we want in our classrooms and how we want our children to be taught," she said. "When a child is not enjoying what they learn, they will not become lifelong learners." 

Linda Wilk of Merrick agreed. She refused to allow her three children to take the testing last year. 

"They are trying to evaluate children like you would a product," she said. "They are trying to evaluate these kids in a way that they can't."

Kat Lichter of East Islip told parents to keep fighting for their children.

She said that her daughter was the only student in her school to refuse the testing last year, but five children already gave in their letters of refusal for the upcoming testing. 

"My child is so much happier because she knows she will not take the test this year," Lichner said. "She said, 'Mommy I was embarrassed when I did not take the test before, but now my friends are doing it." 

Lichter told parents not to give up. 

"Show them you won't back down," she said. 

What do you think of the Common Core curriculum? Has your child been affected by it? Tell us in the comments below.