It Seems That CSCOPE is the Root of All Evil (Part 1 of 4)

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Note: CSCOPEis a vertically aligned scope and sequence used by hundreds of schooldistricts.

I’ve been informally followingthe anti CSCOPE loonies for a while, mostly for entertainment purposes.  I find the anti-CSCOPE’rs to be a lotlike the anti-children vaccination parents who seemingly believe, “Science,research and significant benefits aside, my opinions matter and everyone else shouldsuffer and be put at risk to make me happy.”
Try as I might, I have adifficult time emphathizing with that mindset.  Sadly, like a mongrel dog that won’t give up a bone, thesepeople aren’t giving up anytime soon, so over the next four posts, I’m going tosummarize their arguments and provide a response.  Before reading these arguments, it might be helpful to firstbang your head against the wall 8 or 9 times to suspend critical thought.
Anti-CSCOPE Argument Number 1: Smart people and professionals I don’t agree with helpeddesign CSCOPE.  So obviously it isan evil, brainwashing propaganda tool.
Response: Yes, smart people andprofessionals were and continue to be instrumental in the design of CSCOPE. Theresulting tool is the result of this original and subsequently on-going collaboration.  And yes, the tool created by thiscollaboration of experts (with representatives from the classroom to universityhall) is different than what teachers used previously.  That is a good thing. Just like Lipitor,smart phones, and hybrid engines are good things that weren’t available 20years ago.
Anti-CSCOPE Argument Number 2: Some of the smart people and professionals who designedCSCOPE can be connected to supporting Pretender Obama, a known Muslim, foreignerand anti-American.  So obviouslyCSCOPE is an evil, brainwashing, socialist propaganda tool.
Response: Yes, some of the smartpeople and professionals connected to CSCOPE openly support PresidentObama.  As did 51% of the countryand even 41% of Texans.  And no,the President is not a Muslim (which wouldn’t matter), foreigner noranti-American. Additionally, the most blatant attempts to politicize curriculum are coming from YOU, so please take a deep breath and slow your roll.  
Anti-CSCOPE Argument Number 3: CSCOPE is tied to the Common Core, which is an overt andobvious attempt to federalize all public schools.
Response: Sadly, for thepurposes of your conspiracy theory, CSCOPE predates the Common Core.  CSCOPE is a resource that has beenbuilt to better help teachers meet the instructional requirements of TAKS andSTAAR and avoid the sanctions of not meeting those requirements. Now here arethe juicy ironies.
A. The Common Core is modeled oninstructional concepts that were pioneered by the TEKS.  Texas Republicans, Bush and Perry putthis into place.
B. The sanctions attached to notmeeting accountability standards were put into place, again, by Bush, Perry andthe Right.  The tool you hate hasbeen designed to meet the requirements demanded by, enacted for, and supportedby YOU.
If there ever was a proof pointfor the Law of Unintended Consequences (for you), this is it. On the otherhand, not only is the tool useful for educators, every year it improves.
Is your head hurting yet?Tomorrow, we’ll address arguments 4 thru 6.
Think. Work. Achieve.Your turn...

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