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He was for Common Core, before he was against Common Core.

Brooks Coleman was for Common Core, before he was against Common Core.

In political parlance this is called a flip flop, or walking an issue back when it faces intense resistance.

That is where Brooks Coleman, Chairman of the Education Committee in the Georgia House of Representatives finds himself. As the campaign season heats up, Rep. Coleman finds his voting record on Common Core flying in the face the State Republican Party’s stance on Common Core. The Republican Party has taken the position against the CCS Standards. At the Republican Convention last year a Resolution was put forward taking a position against Common Core. The Resolution

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In politics there are two ways to approach a problem. The most used method in Georgia is the fix. This is where you admit there is a problem and then go about trying to fix something that is fundamentally flawed. The end effect is that you spend more taxpayer money and the problem still persists. That is exactly what is currently taking place with Common Core.

The more honest approach is to have a public debate. That would shine a light on some of the more controversial aspects proposed in implementing Common Core. That approach, however, is not politically expedient and besides that is why lobbyist contribute to campaigns and why we have career politician. Georgia Ethics Commission

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Reasonable people can agree to disagree. There are good arguments FOR and AGAINST education policy that works its way into legislation. However, the trend under the Chairmanship of Brooks Coleman has been to move away from local control towards centralization at the State level. My humble opinion is that embracing Common Core will increase the influence of Federal grants (Race to the Top) on Education policy in Georgia. That is the wrong road to go down and it will weaken our State sovereignty and increase our dependence on Federal dollars.  It is the carrot and stick. I will give you THIS… if you DO that. It is a classic example of how the Federal government has eroded the ability of the States to formulate their own solutions.

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