FULCHER: Glad he opposes Idaho Core

Yes, you are correct. Russ Fulcher changed his mind on Common Core. Like most of us, Senator Fulcher did not know much about Common Core when, in 2011 as a member of the Senate Education Committee, he voted for a rule supporting the Common Core standards in math and English language arts.

However, he has since done his research and has discovered many issues surrounding Common Core that make it something we need to do away with in Idaho. The proponents of Common Core pushed it as a “more rigorous” set of standards that all students need to meet if they are to be successful in college and in their future careers. A little research shows that the standards are not more rigorous than those that already exist in many states and school districts around our country — and the standards were not “benchmarked” with those of countries in which students exceed U.S. students, despite proponents saying this had been done.

We live in uncertain and dangerous times. We need leaders with vision and the confidence to be proactive in Idaho’s future, to guard and prepare. We need Russ Fulcher as governor.

RACHEL SPENCER

Boise