The problem with Common Core? No lobbyist...

As the Common Core State Standards take hold of the collective masses, I have come to a realization as to why there is such vehement vocalization about it...


... they don't have a lobbyist. Or social media manager. Or press secretary...




I think Common Core State Standards, or CCCS to their friends, are getting a bad rap because they aren't controlling their own message. They have no lobbying group advocating for their cause. They have no one managing their social media profiles. Do they even have a Twitter account? Is it verified? They have no cohesive publicity machine.


The CCSS are allowing individual governors and teacher unions to co-opt its message. How often have we hear Dr. John King of New York State pontificate about the merits of CCSS without any form of confirmation or rebuttal from the CCSS themselves?

Yes, we all know the big name, some might say infamous, lobbying groups for such causes of retirees, tobacco, and coffee (what? you didn't know Big Caffeine had a lobbying group?), but there are far more lobbying groups than just for tobacco and caffeine. Users of the American highway system have a lobby! Ben & Jerry's have a lobbying group!


Each state has its own take. The publishing companies like Pearson and McGraw-Hill have their positions. Teachers, parents, and students have all voiced their varying degrees of feedback. But do we really know how the CCSS feels about all this? The one constituent in all this we've heard from least are the Standards themselves. How do they feel about the testing in their name? How do they feel about being the judge of college and career readiness?


I think a lot of the stress and arguments surrounding the Common Core State Standards would be resolved if they hired a lobbying firm, got a social media manager to address concerns on Twitter and Facebook, and hired a press secretary to formally field inquiries and release information.

Until that time, we'll just have to slog through with "we say, they say" until the CCSS speak up for themselves and start controlling their own message...

Yes, this post has its tongue firmly planted in cheek...