Ann Marie Banfield

Ann Marie Banfield has been researching education reform for over a decade and actively supports parental rights, literacy and academic excellence in k-12 schools. You can contact her at: banfieldannmarie@gmail.com

The Patriot Initiative- Climate Change forum

Climate change has been a hot topic for years. We now have Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claiming, as extremists have done in the recent past, that we have twelve years left on Earth. There was also a climate change meeting in the seacoast area recently, which consisted of many NH State legislators. Here’s the really cool … Read more

Did Bedford Make a BIG MISTAKE Electing Senator Jeanne Dietsch?

In 2017 parents finally enjoyed a victory for parental rights.  Governor Sununu signed an important law that supported informed consent by a parent/guardian before their children could participate in a non-academic survey. What’s so bad about non-academic surveys in our schools?  A LOT. Google inappropriate surveys in schools and you will find examples of surveys … Read more

Lobbying-Against-the-People

Lobbying the NH Legislators: Toddlers for the Workforce!

Even though we are seeing more studies about the dangers of early education on young children, there is a political agenda that seeks to push more children into schools earlier and earlier. Recently Harvard published a study on the dangers of early school enrollment. As one blogger reported, they (toddlers) are seen as in investment. Emily Talmage reported: … Read more

What is the Superintendent in Laconia Hiding?

I’ve been searching for information on the mental health data collected and shared on students in the Laconia School District.  Accessing this information has become challenging, given the responses by the current Superintendent in the district, Brendan Minnihan. One thing is clear from the information that has been provided, mental health data on the students is … Read more

If this is happening in Merrimack schools without Parental Notification, it’s probably happening in your’s.

“New Hampshire schools have redirected the purpose of school, and the primary focus is not on academics.”

Marge Chiafery, Superintendent of Schools;

I appreciate your response that you have provided and appreciate the open dialogue about data collection and social, emotional, and behavioral programming (SEL) in the state of New Hampshire. After reading the regulations for FERPA, it appears that personally identifiable information (PII) collected at the local school district level in the state of New Hampshire (i4See Data Collection system) can be shared without parents knowing about it. Knowing that social, emotional and behavioral programming is being initiated in the state, I believe the sheer magnitude of sharing sensitive, personal, and private data brings the legal issues of privacy, safety, and security to the front of my concerns. I’m sure you would agree.

Although it appears that schools and the New Hampshire Department of Education tell parents and communities that the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. §1232g, is a Federal Privacy law designed to protect the privacy of students’ educational records. Regrettably, regulations were changed without Congressional authority where data mining of our children is permitted for research and development without the knowledge and consent of the parents. I believe it is important that parents are informed about this loophole in the regulations. Protecting children and families should be of utmost importance particularly if children are being used as research subjects. When you stated in your letter, “We have been, and will continue to be methodical in our research and in the application of research into practice….” your comment sheds light on exactly what is happening in our classrooms…methodical research into practice. Professional ethical protocols require informed consent when researching, assessing and treating subjects.

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Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig

Mayor Craig, Please Put Parents and Teachers First, Not D.C. Bureaucrats

Mayor Joyce Craig responded to an article in the Manchester Union Leader saying, “in her mind, the points raised in Girard’s blog don’t raise any red flags.”  This was in response to School Board Member Rich Girard withdrawing support for Manchester Proud. “It’s a community-driven effort,” said Craig. “We’ve got residents, business leaders, colleges and universities who have … Read more

mental-health

Concerns About The 10-Year Mental Health Plan For New Hampshire

Last night I attended a meeting in Portsmouth with the New Hampshire Commissioner of Health and Human Services on the state’s 10-Year Mental Health Plan.  It was clear from the comments at the end of the presentation, from parents and other attendees dealing with serious mental health issues, that this issue is raising concerns throughout New Hampshire. … Read more

The Danger That Can Come To Your Children Attending a Public School in NH

Many people have never heard the name Glenn Cordelli, but if you are a parent, you should get to know him.  Glenn Cordelli is a state representative in New Hampshire serving in Moultonborough, Sandwich, and Tuftonboro.  He finished up his third term, and will hopefully be elected for a fourth term in November.

Representative Glenn Cordelli recently put forth a Bill that would require each local education agency to develop a local data security plan. HB1612 was signed into law by Governor Sununu in August, and now school boards across New Hampshire will have to develop a Data Inventory Security Plan.

This is such an important issue now in public education that the FBI has issued warnings to parents:

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Why You Should Vote for Dan Hynes Over Terry Wolf in Senate District 09

People have asked me why I support Dan Hynes for Senate over Terry Wolf– especially since I respect and like Terry very much.

Terry has always been cordial to me, and I appreciate that in a public servant.  She served for several years on the Bedford School Board and has served as Bedford’s State Representative.  She has made many decisions and voted enough for me to know that her political views do not line up with what I believed was best for Bedford residents or myself.

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STOP the re-authorization of No Child Left Behind

OK, everyone in NH pick up the phone and make a 2 minute phone call RIGHT NOW. STOP the re-authorization of No Child Left Behind…..Thank you!! VOTE NO ON ESEA Rep. Frank Guinta (202) 225-5456 Rep. Annie Kuster (202) 225-5206  

WARNING to SENATOR KELLY AYOTTE! Signing onto Obama’s Workforce Agenda?

KellyAyotteSittingWARNING to SENATOR KELLY AYOTTE:  Obama is redesigning public ed from Liberal Arts to Workforce development. Marc Tucker tried this during the Clinton years, but Republicans were smart enough to reject it back then.  Tucker laid it out here in his letter to Hillary Clinton:

The Common Core Standards are PART of this agenda. Competency Based Ed is too. (It’s actually the failed Outcome Based Ed) They change the name hoping no one will notice the failed OBE experiment on kids is BACK!!

Sen. Ayotte has teamed up with Sen. Coons(D) to help implement the Obama/Tucker workforce agenda in our schools.

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Common Core architect & advisor to the NH DOE: ELIMINATE LOCAL CONTROL

This is the plan to eliminate Local School Boards….just released today – by Marc Tucker at the Center for American Progress (THE Progressive think tank frequented by Clintonistas and Obama-ites which is totally in favor of “fundamentally transforming” America); the important part:  …If Americans are going to decide which level of government we want to … Read more

EDUCATION: Common Core (National Standards): Follow Them Or Expect Better?

As public schools in New Hampshire begin the process of aligning curriculum to the new Common Core (National) Standards, parents should take the time to know what this means for their children.

The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) together formed the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) to develop a set of academic standards.  The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is a set of learning standards in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.  These standards replaced existing state standards in these subject areas.

To be fair, the old New Hampshire state education standards were some of the poorest academic standards in the country.  Unfortunately, under the new CCSS, we will not see much academic improvement, while at the same time we are embracing some truly troubling “reforms.”

Contrary to the claims of the CCSS public relations machine, experts have uncovered the following about Common Core:

  • The Common Core only allows States to make changes to the standards by a factor of up to 15 percent. Therefore, if a parent or state official identifies a problem with the CCS, to whom do they appeal? It is unclear who governs these standards, and it seems as though the people of New Hampshire now have to lobby the NGA and CCSSO in Washington, DC in order to make changes necessary to respond to the needs of New Hampshire children.

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Common Core won’t improve education

This is a letter I wrote to the Nashua Telegraph.  Their version was edited.   Here is the original.
When President Obama touts “education reform” as one of his accomplishments, most people do not realize that he is referring to the new Common Core State Standards being implemented nationwide, including in New Hampshire.

Governor Lynch and the New Hampshire Board of Education brought this Trojan horse to our public schools.

Common Core was supposed to raise academic standards. However, they are not world class standards but a race to mediocrity.

Under Common Core, by the end of eighth grade students will be two years behind their international counterparts in math. High school graduates will achieve only a seventh-grade reading level.

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Competency Based Education, coming to a New Hampshire School near you?

Competency Based Education, coming to a New Hampshire school near you?

Bedford started using Competency Based Education a few years ago after the grand opening of their new high school. One of the first things parents noticed was the number of students failing their competencies and then were required to take summer school.

I think parents support a rigorous academic education for their children. If that means students cannot advance to the next grade or must attend summer school that might be a needed consequence. The question is, does Competency Based Eduction provide that academic rigorous course of study?

First, let’s look at where Competency Based Ed. came from. Competency Based Education is Outcome Based Education. Outcome Based Education is yet another attempt to reform a failing public education system. Outcome Based Ed. focuses on “learning outcomes”. But what are learning outcomes? I would suspect parents would automatically assume outcomes meant their children would master the academic content presented in a lesson. The parents would be wrong to make that assumption.

Some of the most vocal opponents to OBE point to a reform method that shifts focus away from academic content to one that focuses on attitudes, behaviors and values. In other words, the outcome may not always be that a student master long division. The outcome may require a student to alter their value system.

Two of the ten competencies that New Hampshire school officials now want students to master, and which the teachers are supposed to promote and measure, are the “ability to get along with others” and “self-management.” Many New Hampshire students are entering college in need of remedial education and now teachers have to focus on non-academic skills. It’s no wonder that many teachers will tell you privately, this is a waste of time and effort.

While these skills may be worthwhile in some classes,…

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International Baccalaureate in Bedford: indoctrination against America? Look at its own materials

Not only is Bedford immersed in controversy over a pro-Marxist anti-Christian book assigned in the Personal Finance class, Juniors and Seniors are offered classes from the controversial International Baccalaureate Program (IB) too.  It seems you are either for or against IB in Bedford.

One of the biggest problems with IB is, its ability to divide the community. When a school implements a program that is laced with political overtones, it’s sure to ruffle the feathers of taxpayers.  That’s exactly what’s happened in Bedford.

IB is in partnership with the education arm of the United Nations: (UNESCO).  The U.N. is a controversial organization in its own right.  From lobbying for Cap-n-Trade to anti-Americanism, this organization comes with controversial political baggage.
 
Some residents over the past year have raised concerns over the IB program.  Some have taken their message to the local papers others have e-mailed school board members to voice their opposition to an expensive program that many see as a method to politically indoctrinate students.
 
Bedford residents have been told that IB can be "Bedfortized".  The local school has the authority to guide students through the IB course of study.  However IB’s own documentation states clearly that the IB program must carry out the IB mission.  One needs to dig a little deeper to truly understand the mission of IB and how their mission does not always support the foundation of our U.S. Republic.

Representative Mark Olson presented on the House floor in Minnesota why he believes IB indoctrinates against America instead of educates for America.  He references the United Nations Declaration on…

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