A Open Letter of Apology To Mr. Shawn Tedesco On Behalf Of All Homeschoolers

Dear Mr. Shawn Tedesco,

On behalf of all homeschoolers, we apologize for all the insults, attacks, demeaning comments, and other condemnable actions of overzealous homeschoolers. We are appalled at this attitude of those who call themselves Christians and engage in such activities.

We are the Valiant Defenders of Ohio, a state chapter of the homeschool national student society, the Valiant Defender’s Party. As students of homeschooling, and not parents, we count Teddy as one of our own. We are grieved at the loss of his life and the backlash that you have received. No child should be subject to such horrendous situation. I dread to think what would happen if I or a fellow friend would endure those atrocities.

By conviction, we cannot support SB 248 in its current, withdrawn form. However, as homeschool students, we are more than willing to work out a solution that will serve Teddy’s memory, prevent child abuse, close loopholes, and also protect educational freedoms in the process.

Samuel Garcia
Chairman, Valiant Defenders of Ohio

Hannah Musick,
Chairwoman, VDP Virginia

Stephen Farrell
Taylor McArthur
Brittany Collett
Evan Strite
Kit Carson

Common Core Campaign Progress Report

Our press release announcing our position against Common Core has been picked up by PR Log! The press release has garnered some attention, here's hoping it might get picked up by a major news outlet! Our petition for Bill HB237 has about 800 signatures to date, and growing day by day.

We are currently working with MinorsVote.com in publishing an article, as well. Ohio Senator Kris Jordan (good guy, I met him at church) has introduced the companion bill SB 237 to the Senate.

Another hearing on the bill had about 600 in attendance:

The fight has only started. 

The Valiant Defenders of Ohio Voices Support For Bills Repealing Common Core

The Valiant Defenders of Ohio Voices Support For Bills Repealing Common Core

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 The Valiant Defenders of Ohio issued a statement today in favor of legislation HB 237 and SB 237, bills for repealing the Common Core State Standards in Ohio, from the House and the Senate, respectively.

Common Core State Standards, Race to the Top Initiatives, and Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) are federal standards of education issued by the Department of Education. Common Core has been already adopted in the state of Ohio, but opposition to the standards are represented by the two pieces of legislation.

The group has released an online petition (http://bit.ly/passhb237) to the House Education Committee and its Chairman, State Representative Gerald Stebelton. The Valiant Defenders of Ohio says that the fight against Common Core is non-partisan in nature, citing both Republican and Democratic opposition in other states. The Valiant Defenders attended hearings on HB237 to show their support in the State Capitol in Columbus.

"We youth know about Common Core," quips Samuel Garcia, the chairman. "It already has affected us as college students and our credit transfers."

The Valiant Defenders of Ohio is the Ohio state chapter of the Valiant Defender's Party. The Valiant Defender's Party is a national student leadership society.

Contact
Samuel Garcia
6149629041
info@valiantdefendersparty.com

ALEKS and Common Core

One of the things that the implementation of the Common Core State Standards is doing is buying out all noteworthy educational institutions under a corporate duopoly so that the CCSS curriculum would become the only curriculum to teach from. This includes educational endeavors that was used by many to avoid the already defunct standards in public schools and the like; it proves that CCSS also wants to control private and home education.

The reality of the fact has impacted my fellow college students. Many of my peers (and fellow members of the Valiant Defenders, both local and national) take most of their math courses through a service called ALEKS, or Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces. McGraw-Hill, one of the education curriculum vendors of CCSS, has recently bought out ALEKS in order to change its courses to adhere to the standards.

As a result, the contract of ALEKS with the ACE (American Council of Education) expired, making many of my fellow students' college credit earning through ALEKS invalid to be transferred to a college of their choice. This has caused much headache, and also searching for alternate ways to earn the math credit, often through a state-approved, but also much harder and time-consuming way. In addition, the newer courses adhering to the standards have been either dumbed down or given a more cryptic treatment.

ALEKS is not the educational institution affected. Educational companies that were once the haven of free learning, such as the Khan Academy, are either being bought out or being much pressured to adhere to the standards.

We cannot stand aloof while this corporate domination of our education is happening. As a Valiant Defender of the new generation, it is my duty to fight for my future, and my fellow youth as well.

Help us to overturn Common Core in Ohio by signing this petition that we started. Contact your representatives and voice your concerns.

First Hearing For HB237

I attended the first hearing for HB237 in the Ohio State Capitol. Many people showed up to support the repeal of Common Core that we had to be ushered to the overflow room.

The fight has only begun!

16 year-old Pat Richardson-Common Core Q&A Presentation 10-10-13

Petition to the Ohio State House To Repeal Common Core!

Please sign!