Common Core Nationalizes and Dumbs Down Public School CurriculumDr. Ron Paul Sadly, but not surprisingly, instead of improving education by repealing No Child Left Behinds testing and other mandates, the Obama administration is increasing national control over schools via the Common Core initiative. Common Core is a new curriculum developed by a panel of so-called education experts. The administration is trying to turn Common Core into a national curriculum by offering states increased federal education funding if they impose Common Cores curriculum on their public schools. This is yet another example of the government using money stolen from the people to bribe states into obeying federal dictates. Critics of Common Core say it dumbs down education by replacing traditional English literature with informational texts. So students will read such inspiring materials as studies by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the EPAs Recommended Levels of Insulation, and Invasive Plant Inventory by Californias Invasive Plant Council. It is doubtful that reading federal reports will teach students the habits of critical thinking and skepticism of government that the Founders considered essential to maintaining a free republic. Parents can also effectively opt out of programs like Common Core by seeking alternatives to government education. It is no coincidence that, as federal control over education increases, the quality of public education has declined and more parents have chosen to homeschool. To support these parents, I have established my own homeschool curriculum. Unlike Common Core, we do not dumb down any of our offerings. Instead, the goal is to provide students with a rigorous education in history, math, English, foreign languages, and other core subjects necessary to a well-rounded education. Unlike the top-down model of nationalized education, the homeschool curriculum is deigned to encourage maximum input from parents and students. While the curriculum will reflect my belief, and interest, in Austrian economics, libertarian political theory, and the history of the struggle against state power, the curriculum is being carefully designed to not show bias toward any one religion. I hope all parents of any faithor no religious belief at allwill feel comfortable using the curriculum. I believe it is important for those of us concerned with education and liberty to fight our battles locally. We must oppose further encroachment on the autonomy of local public schools and work to roll-back existing interference, while encouraging and supporting the growth of homeschooling and other alternative education movements. The key to restoring quality education is to replace the bureaucratic control of education with a free-market in education. Parents should have the freedom to select the type of education that best suits their childs unique needs. Please visit and support Dr. Pauls websites at the-free-foundation.organdronpaulcurriculum.com 