[grania]

So McDaniels needs to come back and say he'd only eliminate federal funds which are used to impose the federal curriculum on Mississippi and local communities. Tell the people it's about regaining control of the schools, and money will be redirected to programs that will help children prepare for jobs and being excellent community members.

(That's what 'pubs used to argue until George 1 came along and expanded the Department of Education)

[Boowhoknew]

I am surprised at the manner in which the elected officials in the Mississippi state houses have embraced Common Core. State senator Terry Burton for one has latched on to the federal teat and defends the federal educational guidelines as suitable for Mississippians.
Possibly not a factor if you can take your children to a private school, but how many of the Mississippians I know can do that? In the eyes of the educational bureaucracy in the state,it serves several purposes. It takes the money, takes the hard choices away, and substitutes the choice with a federally approved curriculum, and cuts back the costs associated with hiring the people who could have made good choices to prevent illiteracy and behavioral morass within the schools of our state.
The Clarion Ledger, Mississippi's paper of note, had a powerful series on special education issues in Mississippi. As you can imagine, it,too, is a dismal failure in most districts. There are a few bright spots, but that is the result of dedicated professionals taking a problem and trying to improve the lot of children, who are usually lumped together and babysat.
The schools are becoming a reason the property values go high in a area where the land has been bought up by certain groups of people. With a long term view of changing the schools ratings whenever the financial winds favor these groups of investors, the system is played to create a dynasty of wealthy that the plantation owners of old would be proud of. If you are in the income level that benefits from these schools, great. Otherwise you are consigned to send your children to failing schools where lax standards, gangs and unskilled teachers abound. Stay in your economic class and shut up.