CORE: The truth is in here

I’m an eighth-grade history teacher in Coeur d’Alene, guess I didn’t get the memo that I’m not supposed to be teaching about the Founding Fathers or patriotism. I only learned about it Saturday morning after reading Ms. Vander Feer’s guest column on the evils of Common Core. Sadly, I found out too late since I already covered the Revolution and the Founding Fathers in all five of my U.S. history classes, and patriotism is a common theme all year-long.

From my viewpoint, which I guess you could say is “Ground Zero,” I see Common Core as a positive influence on Idaho’s children. Case in Point: Even though social studies is not a focus in the Common Core, I collaborate with language arts colleagues helping students become proficient in reading, writing, listening and speaking. After 20 years in education, I’ve seen a huge and positive change in the way we are teaching and in expected learner outcomes. The biggest change is that we are teaching children to think and apply knowledge to new situations, not just asking them to memorize random facts in order to pass a multiple choice test.

Ms. Vander Feer, I am a product of Christian schools myself and I suspect you and I are not too far apart in our values and beliefs. The door to my classroom is open; please don’t believe everything you hear/read about Common Core. Come and find out for yourself.

ROBYN PALMER

Coeur d’Alene