Education Liberty Watch Provides Testimony Against Common Core in Missouri

In her side’s one-hour session, Byrne argued against implementation of the standards primarily on procedural grounds. She contended they did not align with the purpose of education according to the Missouri Constitution; they were not really developed by the states; they jeopardize the quality of education in Missouri; and they were not properly vetted according to Missouri law.Karen Effrem, a pediatrician who heads a group known as Education Liberty Watch…argued that the standards ask too much of young children and too little of older ones, creating a level of stress that isn’t necessary.

“We’re turning five- and six-year-olds into good little corporate board members,” Effrem said.

She said the emphasis on skills that students are too young to have can lead to symptoms such as avoiding schools, insomnia, panic attacks and self-mutilation.

“It is turning teachers who do not necessarily have training in psychology essentially into psychologists,” she told the board, “and that could be potentially dangerous because these assessments will go into child’s record and essentially follow them for life.”