Chris Sununu's words are, IMHO, a bit strange - Granite Grok

Chris Sununu’s words are, IMHO, a bit strange

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Image: WMUR- Political Scoop

Now that the NH FITN Prez Wannabe Beauty Contest is now long gone, we can start turning our attentions to what matters: NH (e.g., “screw DC, save NH”).  That certainly means it’s time to start watching and evaluating NH specific races which certainly includes the Governor one.  Ann Marie Banfield has an extensive email list to which I am on and this was one of her latest missives, pointing out Chris Sununu’s (current NH Executive Councilor and looking to upgrade to NH Governor) statement on NH’s continued engagement with Common Core (full content after the jump).  I read it and found it strangely worded (not to mention at after reading it several times, it was not clear how he had voted).

“Today the Governor and Department of Education asked for a vote by the Executive Council for a retroactive contract renewal with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium for statewide academic testing of New Hampshire school students. Parents and teachers across the state have raised serious questions about Smarter Balanced testing and Common Core standards, and whether this is the right path for New Hampshire. Yet by bringing the contract before the Executive Council seven months late, the state has been put in a position of having to accept these tests and standards or risk losing over $250 million in federal funding.

This is yet another example of the federal government forcing their priorities onto states by threatening to withhold funding from anyone who does not toe the line. This is a failure of leadership at both the national and state level, and I am committed to restoring local control to New Hampshire schools…

A couple of thoughts:

  • the state has been put in a position of having to accept these tests and standards

Last time I looked, NH was a sovereign State – the whole idea of Federalism is pinned on this Principle. Let’s cut out the crap and just say it – WHY does NH “ hav[e] to accept” these standards?  It doesn’t – it was decided, mostly by the NH Board of Education and others here in NH, that we would.  And in doing so put us on the hook for the Feds to control education here in NH (let it be said, those that are Statists in both Parties that are perfectly ok with a more centralized control over NH).  I find it strange that Sununu made no mention of this line of argument.

Instead, he holds out his hand, on bended knee:

  • or risk losing over $250 million in federal funding

Is it really just about the Benjamins?  His wording makes it sound like the money is even more important – it is?  Contemplate our State Motto (one that I actually take to heart, along with many others here in NH) “Live Free or Die”.  Many on the Left, and not a small number of the Republican Elite as well, would love to see it gone.  Or, failing that, give it mere lip service, feeling “it’s only for the rubes and bumpkins”. Just let it go, goes the conventional wisdom – just a part of now misty musty and ever more distant past (yes, at this point, let the words of Santayana ring in your ears).

Frankly, I moved to NH for a job – but I’ve stayed because of the philosophy engendered by that phrase. And yes, I do think that if more of our “leaders” took it to heart (instead of just being a convenient phrase on the Right), many of our governmental problems would become irrelevant (I can’t WAIT for commenters start in on that!).

Money.  Not a small sum, but what is in contrast of being in thrall to it – the price of Freedom?  I guess I shouldn’t be surprised – after all, the Feds are responsible for funding 40% or so of the State’s budget.

But it is the blaming part that seemed, IMHO, the strangest:

  • This is yet another example of the federal government forcing their priorities onto states 

As if nothing can be done it about – a total throwing up of hands into the air.  Giving up as if “what can anyone do”?  As if we here in NH have no choice in anything in this matter.  Is that leadership?  Is what Chris is railing against just howling against a political wind that cannot be met and bested?  Or just going along with it with a small outburst?

That’s what I get from it.  But I also have a thought on the last part – on real leadership:

  • by threatening to withhold funding from anyone who does not toe the line

So why let them bully you?  Why let them control what NH can and should do on it’s own in educating it’s children (or in any other issue)?  Real leadership is doing what’s right, not because of the money involved.  Sure, money is helpful, but is it necessary?  Is local control dependent on that $250 mil?

When you allow yourself to be controlled by money, especially the Federal “strings attached”, then “Live Free” becomes just a couple of hollow words.

  • This is a failure of leadership at both the national and state level,

No, it’s not at the national level – this Administration has shown that this is EXACTLY what it wants.  This is just the furtherance of the Progressive end goal – the Administrative State.  No local control, no effective State control (except for meaningless stuff) – all at the Federal level and as we see more and more, not even emanating from the Legislative Branch.  It is bureaucrats (head scratch – can’t remember the last time I voted on one to issue regulation that have the effect of law.  You?) making these decisions.

And Chris, with his own words, has given us the impression that those we have elected, to make the decisions and to be accountable to US, can’t hardly stand up to these bureaucrats (e.g., “Department of Education“).  Who is supposed to be running the show?  And if you can’t stand up to the DOE, what should our expectations be of another Sununu governorship?

There are those in NH that agreed with that sentiment and given up NH’s sovereignty and ability to make it’s own decisions – and given that it is Easter, may I say that the “love money is the root of all evil”?  It’s always that “LOOK at all we can do with that money” and the shackles that come with that are never considered. Because the money, or so it seems, is more important than independence.

  • I am committed to restoring local control

So I ask the following questions under the rubric of HOW committed are you:

  • Are you willing to disband the NH Board of Education?
  • Are you willing to let local School Boards handle their own curriculum standards and not force such standards upon them?
  • Are you willing to let local School Boards handle their own spending decisions?  I think of the NH BOE going after the town of Croyden simply because it sees that letting their children go to schools other than public ones as being best for those students.
  • Are you willing to allow more Freedom for “other than public” schools flourish – private, religious (yes, religious!), online, co-ops, homeschools, and other kinds not yet in existence?
  • Will you relax on other regulations like staffing, extra-curricular activities, and other ancillary areas and let, again, local control actually take control?
  • Are you willing to make the sentence “let the money follow the child” (instead of a school in a given Zip Code demanding it) a reality instead of a mere talking point?
  • Are you willing to actively change the current regulations and laws for the ultimate in local control – parental control?  Are you willing to admit that Parents are responsible for their children and not The State?

I’m quite sure I can come up with more.  I also state that with control comes responsibility – local control will require local financial responsibility (and stop whining about having to pay for it).

Oh yeah, I asked and Ann Marie said he voted No.  I still read his words and it still isn’t clear, ranting aside, and couldn’t dig that out of it.

UPDATE: Apparently for all the bluster below, he caved and voted for it.

UPDATE II: watching my DVR’d version of CLOSE UP and Sununu was on.  Lots of rhetoric, but it sounds like he voted for it.  Monday talks, I guess and for all his protestations aside, his emphasis on “NH standards”, all that I heard was a whole lot of rapid tap dancing.

UPDATE III: NH1 says it was unanimously passed on a voice vote.  That’s standing up for rhetoric and laying down for the vote for what Rich Girard (Girard at Large) said was a “tired threat”

Leadership, ayup.

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Statement on Smarter Balanced Contract

March 23, 2016

Chris Sununu, Republican candidate for Governor, issued the following statement today regarding the Executive Council vote on Smarter Balanced testing:

“Today the Governor and Department of Education asked for a vote by the Executive Council for a retroactive contract renewal with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium for statewide academic testing of New Hampshire school students. Parents and teachers across the state have raised serious questions about Smarter Balanced testing and Common Core standards, and whether this is the right path for New Hampshire. Yet by bringing the contract before the Executive Council seven months late, the state has been put in a position of having to accept these tests and standards or risk losing over $250 million in federal funding.

This is yet another example of the federal government forcing their priorities onto states by threatening to withhold funding from anyone who does not toe the line. This is a failure of leadership at both the national and state level, and I am committed to restoring local control to New Hampshire schools and providing assessments and standards that are aligned with the interests of New Hampshire, not Washington D.C. bureaucrats. Unlike the Governor, who has not provided the leadership and accountability we need, I will always put our students, parents, and teachers first.

“It is time for new leadership in Concord that is going to stand up to out of state interests and allow New Hampshire to do what it does best, empower our local schools to have the flexibility and support they need to provide the very best education possible to our students.”

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