Something to Think About
Don Michael, WVFB Director of Governmental Affairs
I recently had the
opportunity to attend the
Special Session in Charleston
where Tim Miley (D-Harrison)
was elected as the 53rd Speaker
for the House of Delegates.
Following the administration of
the oath of office by Supreme
Court Justice Robin Davis,
Speaker Miley shared brief remarks focusing on
education, infrastructure, natural resources and family.
He pledged to work in a bipartisan manner to move
West Virginia forward.
collection/personal security, etc. Farm Bureau has
participated in numerous meetings with key groups
having questions and concerns about Common Core.
Most recently we were represented at a Regional
Common Core Town Hall Meeting in Marietta, Ohio.
Approximately 150 were in attendance, including
representatives from WV’s Constitution Advocates,
Farm Bureau, West Virginians Against Common Core,
and members of our state legislature – Senators Donna
Boley (R-Pleasants) and Mike Hall (R-Putnam); and
Delegates Jim Butler (R-Mason) and Scott Cadle
(R-Mason). This “Truth in American Education”
meeting focused on Common
Core History – Facts and
Upon closer inspection,
Looking to the future,
Fiction; Educational Impact
this movement sweeping
topics have finally been
– Public Schools K-12,
identified for interim study
Christian Schools, Home
across the country is
leading to the 2014 Regular
Schools; Family Values Impact
raising many eyebrows
Session. Topics of interest
– Overall Cost, Unfunded
relative to the fed’s
to Farm Bureau include:
Mandates; Personal Security –
increased involvement in
Aging Watershed Dams and
Government Data Collection;
Channels; Cultivation of the
and Personal Involvement –
state programming, cost,
Meat Processing Industry;
What You Can Do. Program
data collection/personal
Development of a “West
presenters included Emmett
security, etc.”
Virginia-Homegrown” Brand
McGroarty, American
for Local Foods; Review
Principles Project, Washington,
of Hybrid Cooperative
D.C. and Heidi Huber,
Association Laws; Distribution of Power to Rural
Ohioans Against Common Core, Cincinnati, OH.
Communities; Feed to Achieve and Senior Vouchers
Their passionate, thought-provoking presentations
for Locally-Grown Foods; Integrated Leasing for
kept the audience glued to their chairs, sharing data
Horizontal Gas Wells; Necessity of the Application
and personal reflections, including: concern about
of Oil and Gas Conservation Law and Lease
federal intrusion in education and special interest
Integration Principles; Nontraditional Agriculture and control of policy making; “Data-mining without
Agri-tourism Development; and Update of Fencing
abandon is the most fearful part of this;” “Teachers
Laws. For a complete listing of study topics, go to
will be evaluated on an assessment (student test) they
the legislative website (www.legis.state.wv.us) and
don’t write, don’t read and never see;” “This is a fedclick (under DOWNLOADS) on 2013 Interim Study
led, debt-financed education takeover!”
Assignments (PDF).
The meeting was taped and copies will be available
There has been much discussion in recent months
in the near future. A website referenced for updates
about the implementation of “Common Core State
on Common Core developments/concerns is http://
Standards” in education. Upon closer inspection
truthinamericaneducation.com. Stay tuned, this
this movement sweeping across the country is
discussion appears to be heating up across the country.
raising many eyebrows relative to the fed’s increased
Until next time, take care FRIENDS, God bless and
involvement in state programming, cost, data
KEEP SMILING.
“
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 5