'Local Control' Front and Center at Senate IB Hearing
Supporters and opponents of International Baccalaureate turn out in force.
Bedford and Merrimack Valley may lose the IB program if HB 1403 is supported by the NH Senate.
Courtesy of the Association of IB Schools
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More than 100 current and former Bedford and Merrimack Valley students, teachers and parents filled two rooms and the hallway outside to have their voice heard concerning House Bill 1403, which would effectively kill the International Baccalaureate (IB) program in New Hampshire.
Since Bedford and Merrimack Valley are the lone school districts to implement the program (Bedford offers IB courses in grades 11 and 12, and MV provides courses throughout its grades), the vast majority of those who spoke resided in those respective areas.
And while many of the dozens who spoke concentrated on the curriculum itself, the majority focused their comments on the ideal and meaning of "local control."
Even Sen. Ray White (R-Bedford) – who said he felt ambushed by IB supporters at a School Board meeting last month – concluded he would not support HB 1403 in its current state and urged his fellow senators to vote against it because he believes the legislation removes autonomy from individual school districts.
"I wasn't going to testify on this bill because I kind of consider myself an intellectual light weight when it comes to educational issues ... but I was urged to do so by many Bedford residents because this has kind of become the "Bedford" bill, so to speak, to a lot of people," said White. "Like the rest of you senators, I represent many towns and I didn't hear one word of support for the IB curriculum from any of my towns except from Bedford, thus it would seem logical I would be in favor of HB 1403 ...
"But here's what it comes down to: if this committee believes it should be adopting a statewide curriculum, then your choice should be obvious by the end of this hearing. You should support this bill," he continued. "But here's the problem. This should not be a discussion about the IB curriculum. In fact, I don't believe this committee or the state senate should be having curriculum discussions at all ... No matter how I feel about the IB curriculum decisions personally, I have always been consistent that curriculum decisions belong at the local level."
White spoke following Rep. Ralph Boehm, vice chairman of the House Education Committee, who presented the bill at the hearing.
Boehm stressed the fact that IB is connected to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and noted payments and disputes involving IB are directed to Geneva, Switzerland, where IBO is headquartered. He also cited U.S. law which states no funds can be given to UNESCO.
Dave Murray, a Bedford parent who has students who have taken both IB and AP courses, said he opposes IB and supports HB 1403 as it currently stands.
"Really, I think my focus on the bill and why I support it is this concept of who controls what is going on in our schools. IB is the topic of the day, but it could be the Catholic Church or any other type of foreign organization, that the school board decides to sign us up for a program that's run or operated internationally. I think that's really something we need to look at across the state," said Murray, who noted while each district deserves a large measure of control, it's important to have some state and federally mandated guidelines in place to establish a standard for education throughout the U.S. and New Hampshire.
There were others, still, like BHS junior Michael Courtney, who pleaded with the committee to vote against the bill.
"Let's admit that the sole purpose of this hearing has nothing to do with the merits or criticisms of the IB program, but rather if the curriculum represents a threat to the sovereignty of New Hampshire," said Courtney. "If I may speak for my fellow classmates, it's safe to say we're here today because we believe in the IB program and all it stands for. ... What really worries me whether the act of the legislature in passing this bill into law represents a threat to the sovereignty of the local communities of New Hampshire after we have researched, scrutinized, voted upon, implemented and reassessed our own school curriculum."
Dozens of supporters and opponents followed, offering similar sentiments, and an amendment was offered by the House Education Committee which essentially calls for a study committee on the issue.
The Senate Education Committee will move into executive session to discuss the bill and likely pass down its recommendation in the next several weeks.
Apljak
6:25 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Personally, I think that an AP program should be taught instead of the IB as the former is more highly regarded and seems more appropriate for college bound students.
everyonesfacts
3:49 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
Is the former more highly regarded?
I don't think so.
Both are highly regarded.
Read Jay Mathews for the writer doing the most with this comparison: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/class-struggle/2010/05/ap_vs_ib--choosing_sides.html
John Schmidt
7:04 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Ralph Boehm, Vice-Chair of the House Education Committee. Sole sponsor of HB 39 (2011), which sought to eliminate Art, Music, Health, World Language, and Technology from the list of subjects included under the state's definition of an "adequate" education.
When it comes to matters involving education, Rep. Boehm is probably one of the last people who deserves the microphone...
Ernie Bridge
3:52 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
We all pay for public education for all of our adult lives, even though most of us have kids in school for only 12 years or so. I think we should all be willing to do so for that part of it that gives children the ability to become productive citizens. That means high school graduates ought to be able to read and write ordinary English and to master everyday Math. They should also have a broad understanding of American and world history and the structure of our democratic government. Beyond that Art, Music, foreign language, athletics and the like ought to be paid for my the parents of the kids taking those courses.
Apljak
7:29 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Unfortunately, the NH BOA (as well as the National BOA) has become so politicized that many are left feeling quite jaded and suspicious of many of their decisions; IB is just one of many examples of the their poor decision-making tendencies.
Jane Aitken
7:30 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
It is hardly local control when my tax dollars, thousands of them, are being sent to Geneva Switzerland and haughty school officials like Terry Wolf just about spits in the faces of anyone who even has a question about what goes on in the schools. Parents and taxpayers are treated like dirt while forking over their grocery money to support education industry scammers like IBO.
John Schmidt
7:40 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
It is local control when a locally elected school board decides to implement a curriculum. It is not local control if the legislature mandates that an elected school board is prohibited from running the schools in a manner most appropriate for that local community.
Apljak
7:47 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
I think that the locally elected school board has decided to implement a program that not only isn't the best option for our students, but also flies in the face of US law. The locally elected school board should be allowed to run the schools as local needs dictate, however, there still needs to be some oversight when they make bad decisions.
everyonesfacts
3:51 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
I would have to disagree.
If your local community decides to go with a program. They make that decision locally. Similar to buying a Toyota instead of a Chevrolet. The decision is made locally, while some of the money might go over to Japan
Apljak
6:57 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
I think that it would be fine for a local decision to be made to buy Toyota instead of chevy; but if the vehicle specs weren't appropriate to the needs of the locale, and even worse, there was a potential law against monies being spent on Toyotas, then I would expect that the State gov't should become involved...
Jane Aitken
8:16 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The biggest problem is, no school official to date anywhere in the country has been able to describe what the 'value added' is of this program. They cannot describe what it is or does. They claim Bedford writes their own curriculum, so what is it they need to pay Geneva for? MV claims they don't use the IB curriculum and materials and won't abide by the mission.. clearly a violation of their contract with IBO if not. However, photos and work taken from their classrooms show otherwise. Why lie?
When a school board cannot stop lying and obfuscating to the parents and taxpayers there is something wrong. When Bedford pays tons of money to curriculum coordinators who can't create a decent 'rigorous' program without paying Geneva, for something they cannot describe, that is suspect.
People who defend spending money on something that no one can even explain what it is or does, well I'd love to sell you something if it's that easy. A pet rock perhaps? A jar of air? Or IB?
everyonesfacts
3:53 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
It gives students a curriculum used worldwide and allows for an internationally known and recognized corporation to help with professional development and assessment.
There it is in a sentence.
Katie Bell
10:03 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
"If I may speak for my fellow classmates, it's safe to say we're here today because we believe in the IB program and all it stands for."
Oh! Was today an official school holiday? Will IB be awarding CAS credit for these students who cut school to attend the hearing?
Ted Sizer
10:10 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Ryan you missed the Bedford bully literally go in a room with one of the Sponsors and an opponent of IB and verbally attack them after the hearing. She was yelling so loud that one of the Senator's had to shut the door because she could be heard in the next room over where they started a new hearing.
Is it any wonder that people will not testify against the Bedford Bullies?
Dennis Taylor
12:10 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Another reason to have no faith in the decisions of Terry Wolf.
Jane Aitken
4:58 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Actually @everyonesfacts stepped in it again when he used the Toyota/Chevrolet comparison. Toyotas are now made in the US, Chevies less so. Then again everything everyonesfacts states is "upside down" and contradictory, just like the propaganda and fuzzy methods in today's educational indoctrination centers.
everyonesfacts
5:33 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Uhhh, Jane the point is exactly as I wished it.
IB education will be made in the US, just like Toyotas are. Some of the money will go to an organization in Geneva, Switzerland. This is exactly the same as a Toyota made in the US and the money going to Japan. Wherever Chevies are made, they are headquartered in the USA, last I knew.
My reasoning doesn't seem fuzzy here or above. Seems like you have never been right in one of our exchanges, except for you not being a poster from Breitbart. That's like 70-1.
Jane Aitken
6:12 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Driving a Toyota doesn't make me want to use Japan's constitution instead of ours.. so you are wrong again. Don't confuse trade with propaganda. I don't read Breitbart -- they are on the wrong side of too many things. Your posts are so convoluted and self-contradicting I don't even address most of your statements which are two-sided. I guess the dialectical method they teach in TOK has rubbed off on you.
everyonesfacts
6:27 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Jane, you were the one who did not get the analogy. Now, you get it and you don't like it. Joining IB does not force you to adopt any constitution. So I guess you have nothing to worry about except black helicopters http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_helicopter
Jane Aitken
6:29 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
I get the analogy but it was a poor one. I will say it again. Buying a Toyota does not mean I have to take propaganda from the Japanese about how to run my government. Period. Funny you don't have one person that agrees with your convoluted unintelligible responses on here and other posts.
I have no idea what your latest ad hominem attack is about -- remember I am a real teacher who has seen what I have seen in the classrooms. I have read the IBO/UNESCO documents. It's all there.. No black helicopters necessary.
everyonesfacts
6:40 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Funny, John Schmidt seems to agree completely.
See his post above.
I don't see a lot of support for you either.
I am a real teacher too. So we're even. A real teacher who has talked with several IB teachers and students from around the world. Advantage: everyonesfacts.
Jane Aitken
6:41 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Talking is all you seem to be able to do, and poorly at that. As Dave Murry stated, you proponents never have any hard facts to counter what is in the IBO's own documents... you can only feign innocence and claim superiority.. a sure sign of a loser.
everyonesfacts
6:48 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Huh? Isn't that all anyone can do on a message board?
You again, are not logical.
The hard facts are IBO's own documents and IB teachers and students and check out Jay Mathews's _Supertest_ for more. Mathews is generally considered the leading education columnist in the US. He writes for the Washington Post and is the creator of the top high school list.
No innocence here, I don't claim superiority I just show your inferiority. Those are not the same thing.
Jane Aitken
7:06 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
The hard facts in IBO's documents are what you are ignoring.
Jay Mathews is a discredited source since he benefits financially from promotion of IBO. He is NOT leading anything, he's an opinion columnist who has never even read IB documents. The Washington Post is a newspaper, and also discredited many times for making things up when they need to.
All you can do is reiterate your opinions and assertions with nothing to back them up.
everyonesfacts
8:36 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
You seem not to be able to link to the "hard facts."
You have linked to lesson suggestions, that seem to open kids minds up to the possibility of international cooperation to confront international problems. None of what you have shown me so far is mandatory.
All newspapers make mistakes. If there is a perfect newspaper I would like to see it. The NYT corrects itself on a daily basis often about small things Aitken instead of Aiken, for instance.
Who is the leading educational reporter? Michael Winerip? John Merrow? I would argue it would be Jay Mathews and I think Winerip, Merrow, and Diane Ravitch would agree. This does not mean they agree with him, it just means he is the most influential writer. Ever heard of Jaime Escalante, Rafe Esquith, KIPP? In part, you can thank Mathews who has been a proponent of their work when most had never heard of them.
My reiterations are no different than yours? Are they? I would argue that mine are actually more grounded on supporting evidence.
Jane Aitken
7:10 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
As I said before I own TWO foreign cars but never had to listen to propaganda from each of those countries or do activism on their behalf as a "condition" of my purchase. That IS however a condition of working as an IB school, clearly stated in the materials. End of story.
everyonesfacts
8:28 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
So are you also against AP?
You have to teach their curriculum and get your "audit" approved?
Would it matter if AP was headquartered in Canada? Or Mexico?
To me, it wouldn't.
Jane Aitken
10:54 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
All hard facts come right from IBO.org no matter how long you beat your gums otherwise.
You say "You have linked to lesson suggestions, that seem to open kids minds up to the possibility of international cooperation to confront international problems."
Exactly.. That is the political mission right there.
Then you say "None of what you have shown me so far is mandatory."
Sorry that's a known fact.. The lessons are provided so that the teachers can see how to comply with the mission of internationalism which is to be infused into the curriculum ---- A REQUIREMENT of being an IB school. I would feel very uncomfortable asking 9 year olds to petition the gov't for more redistribution of the wealth to serve the MDG of the UN.
Your arguments are all what you say and think, never documented by IBO. Mine are.
Give it up please. You're not convincing.
everyonesfacts
3:03 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
So, the problem with you as I read your posts is not that you're ignorant, it's just that so much of what you know just isn't so.
everyonesfacts
3:01 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
What hard facts are you writing about?
I have seen none.
The suggestions you are rankled with are from two of the leading writers on global issues.
One you are most peeved at is so misinterpreted to be laughable. You think Paul Collier argues to tear up national sovereignty in one of the two lessons you've linked when he actually says:
From the talk: "Did you [USA] do anything else [after WWII]? Yes, you totally reversed your security policy. Before the war, your security policy had been isolationist. After the war, you tear that up, you put 100,000 troops in Europe for over 40 years.So, total reversal of security policy. Anything else? Yes, you tear up the "Eleventh Commandment" --national sovereignty. Before the war, you treated national sovereignty as so sacrosanctthat you weren't even willing to join the League of Nations. After the war, you found the United Nations,you found the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, you found the IMF, you encouraged Europe to create the European Community -- all systems for mutual government support. That is still the waterfront of effective policies: aid, trade, security, governments.Of course, the details of policy are going to be different,because the challenge is different.It's not rebuilding Europe, it's reversing the divergencefor the bottom billion, so that they actually catch up.Is that easier or harder? We need to be at least as serious as we were then."
Not exactly as you think it is; is it?
Apljak
7:10 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Jane,
Keep fighting the good fight as many of us don't have the time or inclination to "suffer fools" so tenaciously.
One would think, and would respect so much more, that the IB supporters would be proud to express why they are supporters and wear the UN association as a badge of honor instead of trying to downplay and obfuscate with so many red herrings...
Jane Aitken
7:26 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Oh boy, Apljak you hit the nail on the head. Instead they try to say the IBO doesn't mean what it says in its own documents.
everyonesfacts claims outrageously: "What hard facts are you writing about? I have seen none."
Because you have lied about reading the IBO documents. There you go... that's why you don't know what's in them. Or, you are telling us the IBO is lying about what they say they want in terms of attitude changes and activism on behalf of the UN?
All I know is that Collier derides those who balked at the steps toward global governance, when I say we never should have joined the UN in the first place... and still think they and their stupid programs should be booted out and banned.
We know where you stand. Most people are losing patience with your doublespeak. But the more you talk, the deeper you dig yourself into that hole.
everyonesfacts
10:44 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Jane, I have never claimed to have read all the documents.
I have seen the curriculum posted online. I have perused the site. I have visited teachers' pages who teach IB history. That's it. But it still seems I know as much or more than you do . . . which is ridiculous considering how much you claim to have read.
The most damning evidence you come up with is a public site for sharing lessons. Not exactly what everyone is teaching. Just as the AP listservs which share lessons are not what everybody is teaching, or for that matter the sample syllabi.
But the US is part of the UN no matter how many strong feelings you have.
I am not sure what deep hole you think I am in. It is clear that you did not understand what Collier was talking about because either you did not understand what he meant or borrowed your information from somewhere else.
So, the problem with you as I read your posts is not that you're ignorant, it's just that so much of what you know just isn't so.
Jane Aitken
7:28 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
everyonesfacts: please don't insult Reagan by twisting one of his quotes thanks.
everyonesfacts
10:37 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Reagan used the quote the same way I did.
He would take it as a compliment.
Jane Aitken
3:37 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I will repeat what Apljak said: "Keep fighting the good fight as many of us don't have the time or inclination to "SUFFER FOOLS" so tenaciously.
One would think, and would respect so much more, that the IB supporters would be proud to express why they are supporters and wear the UN association as a badge of honor instead of trying to downplay and obfuscate with so many red herrings..."
It's the mission, it's a requirement, it's right there in their application documents.
You're a one-worlder, why can't you say that with pride and defend your position instead of claiming the rest of us are misinterpreting things? Very weak..
everyonesfacts
5:42 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
First, you OBVIOUSLY misinterpreted Collier. If you think he meant literally that national sovereignty should be ripped up. It is clear, that he meant the US stopped isolating itself after WWII and created, supported, and joined international organizations. That is what he meant. And he is not talking about doing it today but what was done after 1945.
Of course, I'm a one worlder. How many other worlds do we have (that are habitable)?
I have said it before: global problems require global solutions.
I have always been clear about that. And I stated the UN might be the best organization to come to terms with many of those problems as well as bilateral, trilateral, multilateral agreements, and various other organizations like OAS, the IMF, the G-20, et. al.. I don't see how you solve the problems by having the US actively not participating.
It's right there in the documents?
You still haven't shown anything.
This is like your proof of Jay Mathews being on the payroll of IB. All sound and fury.
everyonesfacts
12:19 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Apljak
You must be learning your skills from the anti-IB folks.
The vote was "delayed" leaving IB untouched:
http://bedford-nh.patch.com/articles/new-hampshire-senate-kills-ib-bill
A win for local control imho.
Apljak
12:25 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
You're right, everyonesfacts, my bad. I looked quickly on my BBerry and misread...oh well, I guess it was to be expected. It is so hard for politicians to be held to making a decision, regardless of their leaning, and we are left with spineless decisions like this one!
Jane Aitken
12:10 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Actually in complete defiance of the overwhelming House vote to investigate this program, the Senate just voted to defeat HB 1403. I guess we know who we need to primary this coming time around. And I saw a suggestion that people withhold their tax money from the schools until the UN is removed from the agenda. Good idea. They don't deserve to be allowed to do this to our kids with our own money.
You can thank the Union Leader, and the Bedford school officials for helping to promote disinfo about what the bill would do, namely that AP was ever in danger. It was not.
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120516/NEWS06/705169912
everyonesfacts
12:24 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Don't you think that there was more discussion before the Senate vote.
It seems like the House did not truly get the story from the horse's mouth, but from a small group who did not reach out to those who would be most affected.
The AP was a mistake, written by a misinformed or mendacious student.
Jane Aitken
12:32 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
No there was not, there was only a few weeks of it, period. The teachers and researchers have been talking about this insidious program since it was driven out of Bow and Gilford in 2003-2004. MVSD knew their teachers did not want as far back as 2009. (I have the emails) The House saw 6 or more years of controversy about it.
The disinfo about all programs being in danger was egregious. The only thing HB 1403 aimed to do was investigate and remove the UN agenda from programs used. That parents and teachers were willing to let IB go forward with its current IBO requirements is an obscene tragedy and crime against our children.
everyonesfacts
1:59 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
What researchers?
Do they have books or peer reviewed journal articles?
No crime has been done or is being done under the use of IB.
Total hyperbolic balderdash.