Teachers' union to "wait and see" about scheduling their own Common Core forums

By Natasha Scully

With State Education Commissioner John King Jr. traveling the state to hear from parents and educators on the controversial new Common Core learning standards, New York State United Teachers, Alliance for Quality Education, and a group of state legislators are now taking a "wait and see" approach in holding their own forums.

The powerful teachers union and its allies threatened to organize its own series of forums after the Education Department temporarily postponed their own forums after King was berated during an Oct. 10 public meeting in Poughkeepsie. The forums have since been rescheduled under a new format.

Following the Oct. 24 forum held in Albany, King is scheduled to appear in Westchester at Port Chester Middle School today, Oct. 28, again on Nov. 6 in Long Island-Suffolk, Nov. 7 in Rochester, Nov. 13 in Long Island-Nassau, Dec. 3 in Syracuse and again in Long Island-Nassau on Dec. 9 in Long Island-Nassau.

"However, if the commissioner cancels again, or if his forums are anything but an opportunity for parents and teachers to directly address the commissioner with their concerns, we will immediately step in and fill that void," Richard Iannuzzi, NYSUT President said. "Parents and teachers are frustrated at the rushed implementation of Common Core and the state's focus on assessment rather than learning. It's important for the commissioner to listen to the unfiltered voices of concerned parents and educators and to make the necessary course corrections."

Read more at http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-10-28-85621.113122-Teachers-union-to-wait-and-see-about-scheduling-their-own-Common-Core-forums.html