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National Alerts 
Opposition to Federal Curriculum Helps Put Brakes on Race to the Top June 1, 2010
As of May 19th, the state of Minnesota has finally and thankfully given up on its second round application for Race to the Top (RTTT). The Pawlenty administration and many Republicans are blaming Democrats and the statewide teachers' union for opposing reforms in teacher accountability such as alternative licensure, increased evaluations, performance pay, and tenure reform for the inability to proceed with the application. Less discussed or admitted, but far more important for liberty, sovereignty, and academic excellence was the strong and concerted opposition from the grassroots and freedom-minded legislators to centralization of control and the adoption of national standards, otherwise known as the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI).
(See details.)
Legislative Wrap-Up: Overall, Liberty Stands May 19, 2010
The 2010 Minnesota legislative session will be known for what children, parents, and taxpayers were spared. Thanks to you making your voices heard and the work of freedom-minded legislators, along with a big deficit and complex politics, Minnesota has been spared Race to the Top involvement, adoption of a dumbed down indoctrinating federal curriculum, mental health education, loss of the right to vote on levy extensions, and expansion of nanny state programs for our youngest children.
(See details.)
Global Education/Global Government at the Door May 16, 2010
The worldwide financial crisis is being used as an excuse to create a global government.
To that end, on April 26, 2010, the President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Cluade Trichet, delivered a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
The primary institution of global governance, according to Trichet, will be the Global Economy Meeting (GEM), which regularly meets in Basel, Switzerland. I and others at EdWatch have pointed out on numerous occasions that education in America is being used as a tool for preparing our nation for global government. If global government becomes a reality, the United States will no longer be a free and independent nation but will rather be under the control of the global government body.
(See details.)
MN House Rejects Common Core, But Not Race to the Top May 15, 2010
The omnibus K12 policy bill cleared the House floor very late on the night of May 11th. The very good news is that there was little interest on either side of the aisle in adopting the Common Core Standards that we have been warning you about. The bad news is that we all still need to continue educating legislators on the dangers of loss of sovereignty, the unfunded mandates, and the cradle to college control of our children that all go along with Race to the Top (RttT).
(See details.)
Senate Committee Adopts Core Standards May 8, 2010
A valiant bipartisan effort to remove the Common Core Standards language from the Senate omnibus education policy bill was narrowly defeated on the evening of May 4th. This language was the same that was defeated and that we warned you about in the House bill last week. It would adopt the yet to be completed national standards by expedited rulemaking authority, meaning no public hearing, all to gain 20 points in the unconstitutional, sovereignty-robbing Race to the Top program. These national standards, especially because they are likely to become the basis for federal funding for No Child Left Behind, and as confirmed by many respected groups, such as the Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and the Heartland Institute, will become a de facto federal government run curriculum.
(See details.)
House Committee Rejects Common Core and Race to the Top April 30, 2010
As the House education bill was being crafted and debated, EdWatch is extremely glad to announce that both major Republican gubernatorial candidates (Rep. Tom Emmer and Rep. Marty Seifert) understand the freedom priorities of sovereignty, local control, and academic excellence. Both have signed on to the bill authored by Rep. Gene Pelowski and Senator David Hann -HF 3677/SF 3181 - to prohibit Minnesota's involvement in Race to the Top.
(See details.)
You're Invited May 6th April 25, 2010
A Minnesota-based group called VOICES of Conservative Women contacted EdWatch about its upcoming education event. Sounds interesting, especially in light of the current Minnesota bills to adopt the Common Core Standards and to resist the federal Race to the Top education program. EdWatch will be there, and we'd LOVE to have you join us for the evening.
(See details.)
Horrific Common Core Standards Move Forward April 22, 2010
The Common Core Standards (CCS) have finished the public comment phase and are now undergoing final revisions. There has been much criticism of them from individuals and groups, both parents and experts, across the country. The CCS is an absolute requirement for the Race to the Top (RTTT) federal grant program. The concerns of EdWatch are explained here in Dr. Effrem's testimony.
(See details.)
EdWatch Featured at the Milaca Tea Party April 14, 2010
EdWatch's Dr. Karen Effrem will be one of the featured speakers at the Milaca Tax Day Tea Party.
(See details.)
Minnesota Legislators Resist Race to the Top March 19, 2010
As the Common Core Standards have finally become available for public comment, resistance from all points on the political and philosophical spectrum to both Race to the Top and the imposition of national standards has increased.
(See details.)
Horrific Bills Continue Crable Control March 16, 2010
Despite the horrible economy, enormous deficits, and boiling frustration with big government on the part of the electorate, the nanny state busy bodies in the legislature, state bureaucracies, and a cabal of progressive foundations are moving full speed ahead with implementing policies and laws to make parents irrelevant, destroy private childcare, and control every aspect of children's lives from birth to school entry.
(See details.)
"Parental Rights: It's Now or Never" -- Thursday, February 25, 2010 February 22, 2010
Mike Farris, Constitutional Lawyer, speaks at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, on February 25. At this event ponsored by the Minnesota Family Institute and the Association of Christian Home Educators, hear how the Supreme Court and our nation's lower counts are failing to hold parent rights to the same legal standard as fundamental rights like speech and press. Mike Farris describes three threats to parental rights and advocates passage of a federal parental rights amendment.
(See details.)
DFL Bills Promote Mental Health Curricula, Continue Child Care Takeover
and Micromanage High School Counceling
February 20, 2010
Continuing the big government trend to spend money that neither the state nor federal governments have for ideas that are not only not at all needed, but are actually intrusive and harmful, a trio of bills will be heard in House education committees this week.
(See details.)
Race to The Top: Federal Control of Education On Steroids
February 5, 2010
The Obama administration quietly slipped in $4.35 billion of education funding into the stimulus bill passed last year for a program called Race to the Top (RTTT). RTTT has several components that are extremely dangerous to state sovereignty in education, parental rights to control the raising and education of our children, and privacy. Opposition to the many harmful components of RTTT should be raised in every state legislative, gubernatorial and congressional election contest in the nation.
(See details.)
Florida 10th Amendment Center: States rushing for "Race to the Top" federal funds.
January 17, 2010
Florida 10th Amendment Center: Why are states rushing for "Race to the Top" federal funds?
"One wonders why, then, so many states with healthy and robust tenth amendment and sovereignty movements are rushing to get their share of 'stimulus' education money offered by the Obama administration and known as 'Race to the Top.' "
(See details.)
Home Visiting in Health Care Bills Promotes Government Intrusion into Homes November 9, 2009
Among the MANY important reasons to oppose the health care "reform" bills now working their way through Congress are the efforts to expand home visiting programs and the mental screening of new mothers. The House bill, HR-3962, and Senate bill, S-1796, each seek to promote the mental screening of pregnant women and/or new mothers.
(See details.)
What Does IT Mean To Be Free: Event October 28, 2009
One way you can be involved in fighting for the your liberty to continue making health care and child raising decisions is to support CCHC by attending the CCHC Freedom Dinner. The speaker, a former member of the Hitler Youth, will explain how fragile freedom is and what we must do to maintain it. EdWatch will have a table at this wonderful event where you can obtain the latest information on home visiting programs and other important information. The pre-registration deadline has been extended to Saturday, October 31.
(See details.)
Freedom 21 National Conference August 13-15 live over Internet August 10, 2009
EdWatch is co-sponsoring the 10th Annual Freedom 21 National Conference. You can register online and watch is all from home.
(See details.)
Archeological Research on Vikings Disproves Global Warming August 10, 2009
Recent archeological discoveries on the Viking settlements in Greenland, along with various historical records, disprove the theory of man-made global warming. This information is of utmost importance as Congress considers sweeping legislation intended to combat global warming supposedly caused by human activity.
(See details.)
Obama Administration To Impose Liberal UN Curriculum July 29, 2009
The Obama administration's education reform efforts in its "$4.35 billion Race to the Top," will include "adopting internationally benchmarked education standards." These will be national standards keyed to international standards and will be incentivized to the states with federal "stimulus" dollars. The only existing comprehensive "internationally benchmarked" education standards are those developed by UNESCO, the UN's education arm.
(See details.)
Ancient Map Disproves Global Warming July 17, 2009
A recently discovered and publicized ancient map of the globe disproves the theory of man-made global warming. The enormous significance of the map has only now become apparent as Congress considers sweeping legislation intended to combat global warming supposedly caused by human activity.
(See details.)
EdWatch at 10th Annual Freedom21 Conference August 13 - 15th July 4, 2009
The 10th Annual Freedom21 conference will be in Oklahoma City this year from August 13th through August 15th at the Sheraton Midwest City Hotel at the Reed Conference Center. EdWatch speakers Michael Chapman and Allen Quist will both be featured speakers again this year on education topics. The conference provides plenty of practical how-to's. This is a time to be informed, to be connected, to be active, and to become effective. Here's your opportunity.
(See details.)
Team Obama's Class Warfare Strategy April 24, 2009
The current administration is has attacked single issue grassroots citizens as prone to becoming terrorists. That raises serious questions about freedom of thought and freedom of expression by all citizens in our country.
(See details.)
Case Against Preschool March 31, 2009
Despite massive budget deficits, many states like Minnesota, are still trying to spend more on these wasteful, ineffective, and invasive programs.
(See details.)
Budget Hawks 2009 March 24, 2009
Join EdWatch at Budget Hawks on April 2nd in Minneapolis from 5:00 - 8:00 pm.
(See details (pdf).)
Nanny State on the March March 22, 2009
Minnesota state government wants to expand its control in the raising and education of young children, take over private childcare, decrease parental choice, and spend more money it does not have on invasive and ineffective programs.
(See details.)
2010-2011 Budget Reduction Recommendations February 25, 2009
EdWatch makes its recommendations for state budget reductions.
(See details.)
2009 EdWatch Education Policy and Budget Priorities February 11, 2009
These are guiding federal and state legislative principles that can be effective building blocks for educational success as well as prudent fiscal management.
(See details.)
State Power Grab Over Private Preschool February 9, 2009
Most citizens would recognize the anti-bias curriculum as a highly politicized curriculum which seeks to impose a particular ideological world-view upon children.
(See details.)
Action on Radical Early Childhood Bills January 28, 2009
Despite a massive budget deficit and lack of evidence of effectiveness or support in the general population, liberals in both the House and Senate are attempting to implement a statewide Early Childhood quality rating system (QRS). This is not about school readiness or academics. It's about indoctrinating our most vulnerable citizens with the ideology of the left. Learn about the many problems with SF 72, HF 40 and HF 246.
(See details.)
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