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Common Core History
Is Really Indoctrination
Your Common Core article omits some
very disturbing aspects of the new
standards (Aug. 21, page 1). Besides
nonsensical math lessons, the history
requirements are alarming.
For example, 32 of the 72 approved
history books focus on slavery, segre-
gation and racism. America's central
role in defeating Nazi Germany and
Japan and saving civilization from tyr-
anny is glossed over; the curriculum
focuses on the internment of Japanese
Americans, challenges to civil liberties,
debates over race and segregation, and
concerns about using the atomic bomb.
Children are taught that America is,
at its core, a racist nation. The lessons
portray European settlers in America
as villains who disrupted the ecologi-
cally balanced native American society
bringing "widespread deadly epidem-
ics:' a "caste system:' resource exploi-
tation and slavery. The Europeans'
"belief in white superiority" is used
as a framework to "justify their sub-
jugation of Africans and American

One typical assignment asks stu-
dents to design a flag for a "new
socialist nation!' There is a lesson that
compares the Boston Tea Party, viewed
by many as a movement by patriotic
Americans toward freedom, as an act
of terrorism.
Indoctrination of children is one step
in the takeover of free nations. If you
think that can't happen here, remem-
ber there are Germans who thought
the same thing until it was too late.
Education should be left in the
hands of state and local governments.

Core math standards admits, according
to the nonpartisan Hechinger Report
from Columbia University Teachers
College, that ending with the Common
Core standards in math could preclude
students from attending elite colleges.
By the way, can some Common Core
supporter tell me what is wrong with
the tried and true method of simple
addition: (1) add the two digits in the
right column — 6 and 7 — by writing
down the 3 and "carrying the 10" to the
next column, then (2) add the numbers
in the left column — 20 and 10 — to
the carried 10 to get 40, and (3) add 40
to the 3 in the right column to get 43.
Why is this method so broken to the
misguided Rube Goldbergian support-
ers of Common Core?

Steven B. Hantler
West Bloomfield

JET Theater Needs New
And Younger Subscribers
In the late summer of 2013, I excitedly
accepted an offer to join the JET board,
but unfortunately due to some personal
and health issues, I had to resign in
the late fall. In the few short months as
a board member, it became painfully
apparent that this gem in our com-
munity was suffering due to, among
other things, a lack of new and young
subscribers/patrons.
I believed then and I believe now,
after reading last week's article
("Changes At JET," page 57), that unless
the JET theater finds a way to involve
and cater to a younger generation, they
will continue to have problems. I hope
they find a way to do it, because losing
the JET would be a shame.

Common Core Math
Doesn't Add Up
If the Common Core math problem in
last week's Jewish News is a fair repre-
sentation of Common Core curriculum,
the verdict is in: Common Core is
Uncommonly Stupid.
According to this example, a stu-
dent finds the sum of 26 and 17 by:
(1) taking the last number in 26, or 6,
then, (2) thinking of what added to 6
will equal 10, which is 4 and then, (3)
thinking of 17 as 4 + 13 and then, (4)
adding 26 + 4 to get 30, and then, (5)
adding that 30 to 13 to get 43. What?
The added calculations required by
Common Core are nonsensical and
the definition of muda (Japanese for
"waste").
Even the lead writer of Common

Your Legal
Issues

Yiddish Limerick

an You Solve
NC• y Tax Problem?

Labor Day

Men ruft dos* Arbeit tog** or

Labor Day

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So ess**** your burger,
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So Yidn un goyim,****** vos
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* Men ruft dos —it is called
** Arbeit Tog — Labor Day
*** Di zumer ge'endict — the sum-

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**** ess — eat

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Beth Stone
West Bloomfield

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West Bloomfield

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as a story in the JN ever made a major impact on your life?
Maybe you found lost relatives or a new love, connected to
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If you have a story, we'd like to hear it. Send an email (subject line:
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August 28 • 2014

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