Teacher: I helped write Common Core to combat WHITE PRIVILEGE (Video)

Posted by Ben Velderman

ANCHESTER, N.H. – Here’s a defense of Common Core that we haven’t heard before: American schools need the nationalized learning standards so minority students can learn to read as well as white students.

In other words, supporting the experimental learning standards is a matter of social justice.

That view was articulated by teacher David Pook during a recent Common Core debate that occurred at a New Hampshire college, according to Examiner.com.

When Pook, who teaches history at the private and pricey Derryfield School, explained his position, it elicited laughs, groans and jeers from the audience:

“The reason why I helped write the standards and the reason why I am here today is that as a white male in society, I’ve been given a lot of privilege that I didn’t earn. … I think it’s really important that all kids have an equal opportunity to learn how to read. I think I had decided advantages as a result of who I was, not because of any (inaudible).

“And when I walk into places like Roberto Clemente High School on the west side of Chicago, I think it’s really important those kids learn how to read just as well as I had the opportunity to read. And in creating an equitable educational opportunity for all kids, I think this is actually the greatest civics lesson we could teach our kids.”

Read more…