McLaughlin’s Common Core Poll Was Propaganda, Not News
Below is a guest article written submitted by Judi Caler, a mom, grandma, and activist from Nevada City, CA.McLaughlin’s Common Core Poll Was Propaganda, Not News: Why didn’t the Media Say So?
By Judi Caler
During the first week in May, the media reported the results of a poll conducted by Republican pollster John McLaughlin. The poll identified Republican primary voters and “swing” or undecided voters. An initial basic question (#9) seeking voter views on Common Core generated a mixed reaction to the Common Core standards (35% approval; 33% disapproval; 32% don’t know). McLaughlin claimed support soared to a two-thirds majority for Common Core when it was explained in “simple, neutral” language; previously uninformed voters end up supporting the standards.
The Collaborative for Student Success was identified as the organization that commissioned and funded the poll. Since the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is listed as a partner in this organization and has invested hundreds of millions of tax-exempt dollars promoting Common Core across the U.S., one wonders why the media didn’t analyze the poll for objectivity, instead of reporting its results as news.
The question that generated the two-thirds figure was the following (#12): “Common Core is a set of standards in Math and English which state what a child should know in both subjects by the end of each grade of school they complete…Knowing this, do you approve or disapprove of the Common Core State Standards?” The question incorporated a generic definition of “learning standards;” the definition was not specific to Common Core. Yet, thinking they had new information, voters almost doubled their approval of Common Core. Careful reporters would have been able to tell us that this poll is more about how to use trick questions to sway poll findings McLaughlin’s Common Core Poll Was Propaganda, Not News | Truth in American Education: