NY Common Core Debate: Dissecting Pro-CC Petrilli and Martin
On September 9, 2014, Intelligence Squared hosted a debate on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which it entitled, Embrace the Common Core. The title is based upon the position that the organization assumes on the issue.
In this post, I consider CCSS support connected to the Intelligence Squared debate as well as address given statements by both pro-CCSS debaters. The post is long, yet I cannot address all without going on at book-chapter length.
First, for some perplexing CCSS support results connected to this debate.
CCSS Support in the Studio Audience: Who Were Those People?
Since Gates funding is behind at least one of the Intelligence Squared sponsors (NPR)– to the tune of approximately $18 million in the form of 11 grants– the pro-CCSS position of the Intelligence Squared program was no surprise. However, in contrast to the declared Intelligence Squared position, the public survey on the Intelligence Squared site has held steady for weeks at 89 percent opposed to CCSS (43,800 responses to date).
Nevertheless, the studio audience began the debate at 50 percent in favor of CCSS.
I have not been in any room in which half of the hundreds present favored CCSS, so this passing of the Pro-CCSS Halley’s Comet I found to be rather curious in its occurring.
As it turns out, there was some question that came my way via email about whether pro-CCSS debater and Fordham Institute President Michael Petrilli purchased blocks of seats and distributed tickets to Educators for Excellence teachers, also a Gates-funded group, for $4 million in the form of two grants, and also a group representeden masse at the Intelligence Squared CCSS debate.
On September 12, 2014, I emailed Petrilli and asked him,
Mike, I have read that you purchased blocks of seating at the Intelligence Squared CC debate and handed out the tickets to ED4E teachers.Would you care to comment?Thank you.–Mercedes Schneider (deutsch29.wordpress.com)
He responded:
Hi, Mercedes. It’s nice to hear from you.Nope, I didn’t.
So, for those who are wondering about the issue, Petrilli says he did not pad the audience with Educator for Excellence teachers.
In the end, the pro-CCSS side “won” the debate, as based upon a second, post-debate vote in which the higher percentage of changed votes to a particular side was NY Common Core Debate: Dissecting Pro-CC Petrilli and Martin | deutsch29: