Every week leading up to the 2016 Primary Season, HSLDA will post a profile for one of the 2016 Presidential candidates on Homeschooling Now, highlighting where each stands on the Common Core State Standards Initiative. For more information on the Common Core, check out our free resources at HSLDA.org/CommonCore.
BERNIE SANDERS
BACKGROUND:
- U.S. Senator from Vermont
- Member of U.S. House of Representatives (1991-2007)
- Mayor of Burlington, VT (1981-1989)
CURRENT POSITION: Unknown
PAST POSITION: Likely Supportive
VOTING RECORD/TIMELINE:
- July 2015: Voted in favor of the Every Child Achieves Act, the 2015 attempt at ESEA reauthorization, which contains language aimed at preventing the use of federal government dollars to incentivize states into adopting the Common Core State Standards.
- March 2015: Voted against Sen. Amendment 515, a measure which would allow states to opt out of Common Core.
- February 2009: Voted in favor the American Recovery and Reinvestment act of 2009, which included funds for the Race to the Top Program. Check out HSLDA’s Common Core microsite for the story on how Race to the Top funding was used to incentivize states into adopting Common Core.
QUOTES/STATEMENTS:
“This legislation … supports states, like Vermont, that have adopted the Common Core Standards so students are taught the skills they need to be in college and career ready.” —Bernie Sanders press release in favor of 2011 ESEA Reauthorization
RELEVANT SPEECHES/RESOURCES:
- Bernie Sanders press release in favor of 2011 ESEA Reauthorization.
SUMMARY: Bernie Sanders has been noticeably quiet regarding his stance on the Common Core State Standards. As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, his past statements and votes suggest he may have previously supported the standards.
— Andrew Mullins
Photo Credit: First image graphic design by Andrew Mullins; second image by Gage Skidmore.
My favorite item from the store is, What your child needs to know and when.
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We need to point out that Sanders’ openly-admitted socialism is a VERY strong indicator that he is opposed to home-schooling and even private-schooling, because he believes in increasing the power and influence of the government in both personal and economic freedoms.
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Social Democracies are not the same as communism. Consider Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, etc. Many of America’s most successful programs are socialist in nature: public education, Social Security, Medicare, food assistance, state managed road/infrastructure,public libraries, fire departments, etc. I am supporting Bernie Sanders and I home school. Although I haven’t heard one way or the other, my guess is that Senator Sanders probably doesn’t care at all if people choose to home school (he opposes all “Orwellian” legislation – check it out) but if private schools, charters, tuition vouchers, etc. were taking funding from the public educational arena, he would probably oppose such programs because he very passionate about ensuring a quality education to everyone. That is my guess.
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No, that’s conjecture, and you would be incorrect.
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Here is an interesting post about public school inequalities. Posted are two schedules from different areas of N.J. This is where, I believe, you will find most of Bernie Sander’s concerns, unfunded needs, potentially resulting from money being removed from public funding to promote alternatives not available to all. It really has nothing to do with ‘government control.’ I love home schooling, but I am very thankful we have public education too. Bernie is fighting for better and more affordable access to colleges too. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/09/12/an-eighth-grade-boys-outrageous-class-schedule/?tid=hybrid_experimentrandom_3_na
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Here’s one thing for sure: You can bet none of the others will lead to any improvement. And that with certainty.
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Rand Paul is by far the most homeschooling friendly candidate. Also anti-war, and socially liberal.
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Bernie’s socialist programs rely on across the board participation. “Medicare for all” are his words. How about opt-in social security? Nope, they won’t let you manage your own retirement funds. And any time that you give the government more power over your personal life, even if the administration in control at that time don’t abuse it, will the next administration? What happens the next time monsters are in control? This is why throughout history socialism turns bad even if it isn’t bad at first. How many times throughout history in many different countries have we seen forced public schooling used as a means of spreading a political ideology…. But America’s different, right? That’s just…. other countries.
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I am from Denmark and can tell you that homeschooling there is almost non existent. It is allowed but frowned upon and very few would ever even consider it. The government also has some stringent laws regarding this subject which would deter most Danes from even doing it. The common thought among the people in Denmark is that you should put your children through public schools. Some few privileged and richer will attend private schools however majority will be in public schools. It is one of the reasons I choose to raise my children in the states as its much more accepted here. I would hate to see any of that reverse as there is still a fight ahead for the homeschooling community. I like Bernie and can’t say what he would do once in office, but increased government control has proven to compromise personal freedoms of the people time and time again. I love Denmark, the free healthcare and schooling. However it comes with a price. Not only do everyone pay high taxes. We also have many immigrants abusing our generous welfare system. Further if one chooses to force their own path and go against the well adapted system that everyone so blindly submits to “because it’s free”, they will often be met with resistance and requirement tailored to keep you in their system. I have yet to meet a danish homeschooling family living in Denmark. But with the risk of judgment from almost any Dane not to mention discrimination from government agency, I too would hide under a rock.
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