Common Core Listening Tour: Sponsored by Supt. of Public Instruction Diane Douglas

By now, you may have heard about Superintendent Douglas’s "We Are Listening Tour" related to K-12 education. At the Glendale stop, a teacher made this chilling statement: "I am not opposed to federal overreach. This is the United States of America!" That statement was greeted with wild applause.

This Glendale teacher and virtually the entire audience of Glendale teachers, school personnel, board members, Glendale parents, and citizens would be glad if the federal government took over K-12 education. If you are a parent in Glendale, do you support that? The federal government would dictate whatever it wants your child to learn.

I’m reminded of a statement made by Malcom X: "Only a fool would allow his enemy to teach his children." No matter how one feels about Malcolm X, that statement should force us to look at the ridiculousness of our everyday behavior and decisions. If you spend more time picking out your brand of household detergent than choosing your child’s school, you might want to reconsider your priorities. Our children are with their teachers far more than they are with us. Do those teachers align with our values, or do those teachers turn our children against us and our values?

See below for information on Ms. Douglas’s listening tour and the locations, dates, and times of each stop. Unless you want others to dictate what your child learns in the classroom, please show up and speak out at one of these stops in Arizona. If you cannot attend, please send your feedback via email to HearingEveryVoice@azed.gov, online at www.azed.gov/HearingEveryVoice, or via the @azedschools Twitter account using #HearingEveryVoice.

Hearing Every Voice, High Expectations for Every Child

(Phoenix, Ariz., April 16, 2015) Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas said today she will launch a statewide public tour next week to hear directly from Arizona residents about their opinions and concerns on all K-12 education issues.

The annual process includes 1) a statewide series of meetings to listen to the public; 2) recommendations from Department of Education staff based on comments grouped into categories such as standards, curriculum, instruction, general, etc.; and 3) a statewide visit to the same sites to follow up with the public on recommended actions.

"I am dedicated to continually improving the state of education in Arizona through conversations with the people it most directly affectsparents, students, teachers and administrators," Douglas said.

The Superintendent and Senate Education Chairman Kelli Ward will kick off the tour in Kingman, Ariz. on Thursday, April 23. Ward will act as Co-Chair for the meeting, which is being hosted by Mohave County School Superintendent Michael File. The public meeting will take place from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Mohave County Administration building, 700 W. Beale St., Kingman.

Immediately upon being sworn into office, the Superintendent made it one of her top priorities to establish a process that allows local voices to be heard as important educational decisions are made, including the review of statewide standards.

"It is paramount that Arizona not only has the highest standards possible, but that its standards belong to Arizona and are continually improved to best represent both student and local community needs," said Superintendent Douglas. "This process allows us to hear every voice and set high expectations for every child."

The annual input from the public is likely to address many different topics, only one of which will be statewide standards. Those comments related to standards that are turned into draft recommendations will be presented to the State Board of Education (SBE). SBE will then open the standards for comment, and can calendar them and vote yes or no on the changes.

Gov. Doug Ducey has asked the board to conduct a thorough review of Arizonas current standards for English language arts and mathematics. In addition to that effort, the Superintendents statewide We Are Listening tour will provide annual feedback from the public.

The We Are Listening tour will make a total of 14 stops around the state through the end of June. Members of the public also can submit their feedback via email at HearingEveryVoice@azed.gov, online at www.azed.gov/HearingEveryVoice, or via the @azedschools Twitter account using #HearingEveryVoice.

2015 We Are Listening Tour Stops

GW Note: Stops have already occurred in Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Yuma, and Glendale. Video of the Yuma event can be seen by clicking HERE. Video of the Glendale event can be seen by clicking HERE.

5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 7: Coronado High School, Scottsdale

9:00-11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 9: Chandler Public Library Downtown Branch, Chandler (Copper Room- 2nd Floor), 22. S. Delaware Street, Chandler.

5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 28: Pima Community College Center for the Arts, Tucson

9:00-11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 30: Buena Performing Arts Center, Sierra Vista

5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 4: Gila County Courthouse, Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, Globe

9:00-11:30 a.m.m Saturday, June 6: Casa Grande High School, Casa Grande

5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 11: Prescott High School, Prescott

9:00-11:30 a.m., Saturday, June 13, Location to be determined, Flagstaff

5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 18: Navajo Nation Council Chambers, Window Rock

9:00-11:30 a.m., Saturday, June 20: Round Valley Dome, Springerville