Lisa is absolutely right! Outside of the disrespect for the taxpayers by the MV School Board - wait until the parents have their property taxes raised to cover the outrageous cost of this socialistic program. If you have never done so I encourage you to read the United nations Earth Charter under education. the IB program teaches by that with an underlying agenda to separate families, children are their own person in a process of indoctrination to create "worker" bees.

If you do not believe these statements you are free to check with the various school districts around the country "dumping" IB for cost and the grades got no better. No comparative reports have every been done to show effectiveness of this program except by IB or IB teachers. DUH! Let your voices be heard - this is NOT an American Education Program and you also need to VOTE EVERYONE ON YOUR SCHOOL BOARD OUT OF OFFICE.
www.educatingflorida.com

Okay, I see the hysteria, but I don't see a lot of actual discussion of what's so horrible. All I see are buzzwords, like "socialist." But you have to remember, the tea party also has an agenda. So how does that make you different? This article needs more facts.

Where is the independent data that shows academic improvement with IB? Why wasn't consideration of IB brought to the attention of residents of Merrimack Valley and why have the true costs, and accurate information about teacher training been hidden (lied about)? I hope every taxpayer in Merrimack Valley asks the school board these questions. Parents, especially those who prioritize education, should pull their kids from these schools. UN schools promoting the UDHR and the Earth Charter. Thank you, Lisa McLoughlin, for educating people about the truth about IB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT1eZUazGPw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTI0osj4W9w
IB has divided the Bedford community as well.
Parents have expressed disappointment when they assumed their children would qualify for Ivy League acceptances when they applied to colleges and that simply did not happen.
We have residents writing letters to the local paper refusing to increase any taxes (including approving teacher raises) while this program is in the school.

@MOM. Thanks for the footage of the Bedford school board. Quite interesting, thanks!

ForThePeople,

Our issue with IB in American public schools is the very fact that it promotes a transnational agenda and fails to support and educate American children regarding the freedoms and liberties we are blessed with as delineated in our U.S. Constitution. Schools supported by taxes from U.S. property owners should not come with political baggage of any sort, either left or right, they should be apolitical. As an educational "tool" of the UN, IB has agreed to integrate UN Millenium Goals into every aspect of its programs. While some may be okey dokey with everything the UN does, many of us are not and we are unwilling to allow UN values and attitudes to supersede our fundamental U.S. values in our public schools.

Those of us who object to IB have no issue with private academies purchasing the IB product and charging tuition to those who seek an education for their children which states it will create "global citizens".

The agenda is to expose the UN in the schools brainwashing our best and brightest.
Why do school boards deny this? Exposing lies is not an agenda. We just want parents in our state to know what this program is really all about. These women are doing a great job from what I am reading. I would never have known this existed otherwise.

I have asked for facts repeatedly, for *you* to write one single sentence of a fact that your child will be taught which you are against. What I'm hearing is xenophobia and nationalism. For the record, Karl Marx has some incredible ideas. Did communism fail in Russia? Yes, it did, but it doesn't mean you wash away his name from history. A student should be allowed to independently and actively query communism, wrestle with those ideas, discover the history, and interpret for themselves what they think of it. I think that's what IB is all about. When you start flag-waving and talking about the brainwashing of America's youth, you come across as a bunch of kooks. Brainwashing America's youth has gone on for decades; who decides what goes in your child's textbook? The major advantage of IB is that the child can learn the tools needed to think critically.

If communism and whatever else you are afraid of is so awful, surely critical thinking will arrive at the same conclusion you have. If the issue is murky or controversial, maybe your child might have a different idea. Forcing your belief system is just as much brainwashing. It's much more powerful if your child can discover it for themselves.

The only issue I heard in those YouTube videos (in between tears and hysterics), is the issue of AP classes. That issue has been going on since I was a kid in school years ago. The fact of the matter is, even without IB, you are not going to get enough teachers to take on that kind of a workload. Also, there just isn't enough students that will take on that kind of a workload either. It's going to cost money to implement those AP programs, it's going to take a lot of student interest to support them as well.

The idea of creating 33 AP programs in a high school- that's actually called college.

AP is college credit, IB is college preparation. Think of it that way. You can still get your course credits with the IB exams(depends on the school), and you can still have AP classes in those same schools. I don't see any situation where a student doesn't have the same choices they do now, the only difference is they are going to be taught information that has global relevance in addition to American relevance.

The best thing you can do is make sure that AP American history is taught in your school, if that's your biggest hangup. I'm sure if you compromised instead of approaching the school board like extremists you might actually get somewhere. Worst-case scenario, your children learn how to examine and critically think for themselves.

I would like to add one more thing. The American Constitution and the original American values would be considered heinous to today's children. The original Constitution allowed for slavery(until 1865!), did not allow for the right to bear arms, contained no freedom of speech (that's our most favorite amendment!), and so on.

It was amended 27 times!

So to all of these tea party conservatives, these right-wing individuals that would like to "get back to the Constitution," remember this is not a holy document. This is a living document. That means it changes with the times. You should consider that a 28th amendment will appear someday, and it won't be "getting back," it will be "going forwards." That's why our founding fathers allowed for amendments in the first place.

The Right always forgets that part!

Opposing IB does not make one a bad parent or against proper education. The costs are exorbitant for this school district. I have spoken with 3 teachers at MV who all agree this program is overreaching. Why is the school board hiding costs. Why don't they mention the other hidden issues such as the grants which won't last forever that are part of the funding model. Why is the "other relevant information about IB" tab on the MV website a click to nowhere. I can't even get a copy of the contract they are using. This is just as much about the superintendent Mike Martin's legacy then anything else. Teacher student instruction is not a bad philosophy, IB is not the only way to build a students ability to think for themselves and make an inquiry. The bottom line is it is to expensive and the costs are being hidden. If you know anything about how MV does business this is par for the course for the Mike Martin and his school board. This is a great discussion and For the People makes some good points however folks don't let him stop you from venting your anger and frustration because he is a quick writer. The fix is in with this school board. When the question is the money is somewhere between 135K and 3 Million there are issues. The school board will dig in their heels on this one and make wild accusations that it is all for the children. Bow said no to this and there school is top notch. More legacy for Mr. Martin I suppose.

When you have a curriculum committee that claims to be using the methods already, claims they won't sign the mission, and won't use the IB materials, WHAT ARE THEY BUYING?

This explains why IB is a failure: http://www.cogtech.usc.edu/publications/kirschner_Sweller_Clark.pdf
Teachers are called "facilitators" instead of Instructors.
Constructivism has been a proven failure in many independent studies but IB and IB supporters will never tell you that. Kids essentially have to "discover" knowledge. Inquiry. Yet as you will read in the study, this slowly puts students behind those in classes where the teacher actually teaches the students. They call IB rigorous. Why? Because students spend so much time doing what the teacher should be doing. It's "BUSY" work, it's not efficient. It's why so many students end up "burnt out" and why so many never complete the diploma program. They are up to midnight doing homework but it's busy work, not productive.

Does it ever occur to someone why a school would want a private NGO company to come to their school to push the UN agenda? Because after perusing the company's website (www.ibo.org) that is the impression I get. I'm not into conspiracy theories, but what I see there I DO NOT LIKE. Why must a foreign entity be consulted and paid to impose their agenda on the kids in MVSD?

The thing that bothers me the most about the way U.S. public school districts with "change agent" Superintendents that decide they NEED IB, is the stealth manner they go about implementing it. At the Curriculum Committee presentation, they proudly announced that 75% of the teachers were in favor of IB. But is that the truth? How did they arrive at that percentage? Was an anonymous survey taken? Apparently not, according to this e-mail I received:

..."read your article and can't agree more. There are many teachers across the district that DO NOT want this. A vote was taken awhile back; Elementary teachers had to stand to vote their opinion in front of administration. High school votes were in front of every administrator in the district. Why is the school district not taking notice of this?"

My answer, is because those who want IB at any cost, employ the Delphi Technique. This includes the use of intimidation, threats and humiliation. This is anti-American. It should not be tolerated. Our teaching professionals should be free to vote on a districtwide program without being intimidated in front of their peers or fear loss of employment if they disagree with the administration's agenda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFqabFNTsHY

I question the ability of the Administration at Merrimack Valley. Are they saying they cannot offer students a rigorous course of study without IB?? IF not, how come so many private schools are able to do it without the IB expense? I suspect you are paying your Superintendent 6 figures. Why is it they can't manage to offer a quality education without this expensive program?? That's where I'd begin. With the failures of the school. Maybe its time to replace the Administration with someone who can do the job you expect without having to pay extra for some political indoctrination program.

IB divides schools and communities. IB pits neighbor against neighbor, teacher against teacher and school against children of parents who speak out against the program. Stopping the implementation of IB in a public school is a battle, one of the ugliest, nastiest battles I have ever witnessed because it preys on children's minds and a parent's love of their child and country. IB is elitist, non-transparent, arrogant and proprietary. Tax Dollars hit the nail on the head when he said this is all about Mr. Martin's "legacy". Perhaps he will follow in the footsteps of IB change agent Dr. Sidney Freund of Greenwich, CT, who resigned 2 years into a 3 year contract rather than answer questions about IB from one of his own Board members.

Any program that cannot be honestly and openly presented and discussed should never be considered for implementation, let alone spending millions of tax dollars on it in these dire economic times.

Amazing how these overpaid Superintendents get away with complete failure then decide to BUY an expensive radical political program and charge the taxpayers even MORE money. Taxpayers in Merrimack Valley are being fleeced. I just wonder if they will take it or fight back like the parents in BOW did.

A couple things. By definition, the Constitution *is* a living document because it can be amended- and it has been amended 27 times! There is no debate here.

Lastly, it looks to me like you are one of the numerous political action committees, with ties to the much-ridiculed tea party. Basically, you are a lobbyist Lisa. You have nothing to do with New Hampshire, and if I were to use your own xenophobic reasoning against you, I would say I don't want some New Yorker making decisions for New Hampshire's kids. But that would be ridiculous, right?

I don't get paid to go around to other towns and spread the gospel. I find your entire blog to be borderline fraudulent; you are coming on a local blog and advertising your political action committee without disclosing it.

I am not bought and sold... But are you:
http://truthaboutib.com/donate.html

I won't discuss with someone who may not even believe what they're saying.

Oh pooh on the living document thing.

Lisa is not working for anyone: she's an individual citizen who simply knows this IB thing is a fraud. She is not a lobbyist, she is just trying to inform parents when their schools won't. She has no ties to any tea party OR ANY OTHER GROUP. (BTW, the teaparty is now very respected after seeing violent and filthy mobs from the left take to the streets and cause mayem...)

Everything on her site is true, and she did the work FREE.

To say she doesn't believe what she is saying is laughable at best.

Gee I wonder, if she got paid to do this, imagine!!!

Dream on 'for the people' who is a coward and won't say his/her real name.

My replies showing her ties are being deleted. But you can Google it for yourself.

She is paid. And apparently someone doesn't want you to know about it. So much for honesty.

Lisa is a true patriot. She saw this program and what damage it was doing and does the research and shares it with people. No one pays her to do it. SHe is a committee of one.

I've not be had at all. I know what this program is believe me. And I am grateful that someone does the research on it so throroughly.

Yes she is an 'independent' consultant meaning she has done the homework and is willing to share.

You got a problem with that? Or you don't believe in freedom of speech?

ForThePeople is not only breaking the rules of Patch by not putting his/her real name on his/her posts, but doesn't believe people should be allowed to research this dastardly program that is being used to abuse our kids at MVSD!

SO genius, who pays her?????? I'd love to know.

This ought to be good... I know for a fact she's not being 'paid' so I can't wait to see who you come up with.

To accuse her of being "someone who may not even believe what they're saying" is a ludicrous joke. She is one of MANY parents and taxpayers who are SICK of being duped by school boards who work by stealth....

Also, the budget isn't even the biggest problem. The problem is, they claimed they were not using the materials of the org, nor would they sign the mission statement. So WHAT I ask you are they buying??? Please, I await your answer past my bedtime.

That is the second time I've asked that question and still no answer.

If you want to talk about critical thinking, content, and teaching methods... here goes.

Critical Thinking is TOK and is referenced here, no comment: http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/en/russell1.htm
Content: IB is not a curriculum, and they claim they are not using IBOs mateirals, but if you want to be shocked, go look at the materials here www.ibo.org which reflect the mission of the company
Methods are Constructivism and Inquiry which are DEVASTATINGLY inadequate for the slower learners, besides being impossible to teach.

Finally they are under SWISS LAW, so you have no recourse.

Lisa is not a "tea party group" or doing this on behalf of any tea party group. She is one person who connected with other people like us who are looking in on this issue and don't like what we see. Since she shares her research she has ONLY RECENTLY asked for donations from people who agree with her. And she is not connected to any 527 or tea party group but learned of this program in her own community. As a taxpayer who cares what happens to our children, like the rest of us, she has every right to speak out and we have every right to make use of her research.

OH good grief! I'm 80 years old.. armed and dangerous. What a demagogue! LOL Can you name the 'lobby' she is working for ? Nope because there isn't one. A lot of people have blogs and they ask for donations when they spend a lot of time doing the work... not unusual. She is not getting 'paid' to do anything. She does it on her own. She is not funded by a lobby and you therefore can't produce any evidence that's true.. You have lost the argument so you come up with this conspiracy theory. I find it disturbing that you would make a veiled accusation about 'armed and dangerous'... that's the leftwing for you... nuts!

The only people who have been 'had' and don't know it are the MVSD people who have bought -- nothing. It's the school program about NOTHING, sort of like Seinfeld. HAHAH.

Geez, can't a girl even watch the Republicans interrupt each other without having to set the record straight for our confused "ForThePeople"?

Dear ForThePeople,

My identity is no secret. You can even see my ugly mug. You seem to think you have "exposed" the anti-IB messenger as some sort of member of the 1% reaping in bucketloads of cash in order to lobby against IB. Your "research" is laughable.

Yes, I am "available" as an INDEPENDENT consultant. Do you see a fee attached to that statement? Yes, TAIB has a "donate" through Pay Pal button for those who wish to contribute to the cause of informing parents and taxpayers about IB. Yes, I have listed TAIB as a PAC because I have not gone through the process of becoming a 501(c)3 and must make my donors aware that any money they contribute is NOT tax deductible. In 2011, TAIB awarded its first $500 Scholarship. Our total donations for 2011 amounted to $745, out of which we paid the scholarship, $159 for the renewal of the website and donated $30 to the Wounded Warriors Project. TAIB had $56.54 remaining in the account to date. PACs which collect less than $1,000 are not required to file with the IRS.

Yes, I am a concerned citizen who receives daily Google alerts on International Baccalaureate and comment (usually from the comfort of my kitchen with a cup of coffee) where I feel awareness needs to be brought to the issue.

Now, muh dear, shall we discuss how much IBO spends on political lobbying? ;-)

ForThePeople. You have yet to offer any solid arguments FOR IB. However there have been many legit arguments against it. Cost, Constructivism, the political agenda within the program, the fact that the school can't seem to offer a rigorous course of study without paying for it, etc. Your argument is all based on "getting the messenger". I don't care who these people are, they offer solid facts and you offer nothing but your personal opinion based on the fact you don't like them. <YAWN>

Let me clarify my statement regarding IBO's spending on political lobbying. Next to "lobbying" on the IB or IB Fund, Inc 990 IRS returns, you will find a big fat zero. That's because IBO uses local IB "Foundations" and the children to do their political lobbying for them.
http://globalengage.ibo.org/eng/post/jubilee-usa
http://globalengage.ibo.org/eng/blogs/site-moderator/one-five-people-can-t-read-and-what-you-can-do-about-it
http://ibo.org/ibap/aboutibasiapacific/regionalcouncil/panayoulaparha.cfm

And while we're at it, may I point out that the Chair of the IB North America Board is a Vice President of the radical group the National Council of La Raza:

http://www.ibo.org/council/members/pompa/
http://www.breitbart.tv/obama-its-tempting-to-bypass-congress-and-change-the-rules-on-my-own/

And thank you, John St. Croix, for your kind words of support.

The MV School board recently cut 800K from the budget including 3 positions who recieved pink slips. No mention of IB cuts because they said at the outset no curriculum will be cut. A very clever way to spin it and and pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. The school board is just unbelievable. They should all be aware of our frustration. On the MVSD website the school board has posted their email addresses. Send them this link and tell them we are on to their self righteous and dishonest game. The principles are on their as well. Oh what the heck, I will include them here:
2011 - 2012 Members
Mark Hutchins- Chair~Salisbury
H - 648-2163
hutchinsconsulting@tds.net

Audrey Carter~ Vice-Chair - Penacook
H - 753-8037
cnacarter2@comcast.net

Jim Lavery - At Large
H - 753-8071
4laverys@gmail.com

Caroletta Alicea ~Boscawen
H - 796-6119
cmealicea@aol.com

Lorrie Carey~Boscawen
H - 796-2272
myflower@tds.net
Troy Cowan~Loudon
H - 783-4816
tlsdcowan@comcast.net

Laura Vincent~Loudon
H - 783-4849
rllac@comcast.net

William Renauld~Penacook
H - 753-8367
wrenauld@hopkintonschools.org

David Longnecker~Salisbury
H 648-2848

Normandie Blake~Webster
H - 648-2164
boswebvine@juno.com

Thomas Godfrey~Webster
H - 748-0075
tom@godfreyhsse.com

Pass on your concerns about this Mike Martin legacy boondoggle. A waste of our tax payer dollars and I do want whats best for my kids. This isn't it.

To give you another idea of the smug, holier than thou attitude you will get, if I have a teenager who is in need of a part time job, I have a problem. There are not enough good jobs for teens these days. Unless I invoke some good old fashion nepotism. If you are on the school board your kid gets hired to work at the maintenance department for the summer. What do you think the maint crew is going to say no. Not with this spiteful crew. If you are a tax payer you are out of luck. They are an entitled bunch who see the job as getting perks for the family. Hey Mike Martin, what is the deal with the favoritism. Oh yeah, you also got your work week hours reduced at the same time you got a raise in pay. Nothing to see here folks.

Hi Lisa,

Great work on this article. The MV School board is an all volunteer status, elected by the taxpayers. A problem with this district in my opinion is it is hard to get any kind of grass roots campaign going, there is a sort of apathy that surrounds the adults from the towns, all 6 of them. The Concord Monitor has been approached a number of times to do an article on this and they refuses for political reasons. They are to liberal minded to even attack this from a budget point of view. What really gets me is the condescending attitude that if you oppose IB, you are somehow a nut, or on the fringe. This will pass as more people become aware of what is going on; but that is a big if. I owe you a big thanks for pushing this editorial out, have you been to any school board meetings. I am trying to get the word out but it is a tricky issue as you know.

[cont.]

One Superintendent in Ohio claimed people wouldn't vote for the levy until they "feel the pain". Well guess what? Most of America is feeling the pain of out of control taxes and representatives who seem far more comfortable with tyranny than liberty.

I would highly recommend that the people of MVSD demand that the district place its check registry online. Additionally, some districts have opted for the transparency of live-streaming their Board meetings online. The technology to provide the public this transparency is free and available. The public is paying for the operation of these schools, the Superintendent et al are public employees, and the public has a right to know how its taxdollars are being spent and what agendas are being pushed.

I believe that Concord School District school board members are given $1,000 annual stipends for their time which, in the case of our board members, amounts to about 1 cent an hour I would guess, for their time. LOL!

I'm still waiting to hear what 'group' or '527' is behind you Lisa...

(I know there is none, you work alone with just your website and your internet friends but hey, let's see if ForThePeople can make up something out of nothing with his lobbyist conspiracy theory) LOL

Still waiting....

John St. Croix,

How many times have you and I been called "conspiracy theory" kooks by the Left? Too many to count. It is easily explained. Let's take a look at this brainwashed regurgitated talking point by ForThePeople:

"The major advantage of IB is that the child can learn the tools needed to think critically." ~FTP

Shall I dissect the cognitive dissonance of this statement? Or would you like the honors? ;-)

Lisa,
Your arguments are based purely on untested, unconfirmed and irrational personal opinions of the IB. Until you have facts or statistics that prove the IB is a "watchdog" and "controversy-causing" program, as you claim, then please stop with this nonsense.

Dear Jon,

Ge a clue.. All 'facts' come straight from this bogus company's website here: www.ibo.org There is a lot there, suggest you look at it sometime.

You will find clearly spelled out, the costs, the mission, and even get to see samples of the 'ahem' materials that they offer which MVSD claims they are not going to use.

IB's claims of 'success' for children or better chances to enter Ivy League Colleges is self-laudatory, untested, and unconfirmed heresay, promoted by the company itself, which by the way, comes under the jurisdiciton of International law. It is controversial because 'critical thinking' is not defined here nor is it a commodity for which IB has the sole patent.

Let's face it, MVSD is another school district that has been 'busted'. We need to spread this info far and wide.

People like FTP are blowhards who like to make accusations without anything to back them up, and then they disappear as if to sheild themselves from the truth. Well, we know what the truth is... a bunch of people found each other thanks to the internet and got together to compare notes. Lisa happens to be talented at getting the facts and figures together so she has emerged and built her website. This happens all the time. This is a grassroots group who care about what is going on in education I can see that... the fact that you have teachers, parents, taxpayers, etc among you is a good cross section of people from all over the USA. These people cannot ALL be wrong.

This opinion piece by Ms. McLoughlin is replete with distortions and errors of fact, both on the IB program itself, and in its account of how the Merrimack Valley School District has moved forward with the process of IB authorization for its schools.

The district has proceeded deliberately and openly during the past few years, as it looked to pro-actively respond to change necessitated by NCLB. The district's teachers determined that the International Baccalaureate program's inquiry approach would help address the problem of diminished engagement and interest in learning as students progressed through the grades.

Public meetings were held at every school in the district to explain the IB program and the district's keen interest in further exploration of the program's suitability.The bottom line is the program's emphasis on inquiry to spark student engagement will change how teachers teach, but have little effect on what they teach. The district's teachers will still teach to meet the standards of New Hampshire's Department of Education. They will at the same time strive to model and convey the values embodied in the IB Learner Profile. There is a strong emotional component to learning, which the profile addresses. IB learners strive to be: knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. I will close with the observation that these values seem to be in short supply in your essay, and at this site.

Bruce, Jon, and FTP,
Here is a 14 point article where many issues with IB are summarized.
http://myinclinevillage.com/2011/07/31/what-all-parents--students-should-know-before-enrolling-in-ib.aspx

I find it interesting that MVSD has DELETED all relevant documents pertaining to IB that were ONCE ON THEIR WEBSITE. What is going on and why the attempt to hide things? They do have a link to the video 'Shift Happens' -- just watch that video and you will get the CREEPS I assure you.

The whole basis of it is the usual ideas of US being too 'supreme' which are put out there to support the UN's one-world government philosophy of redistribution of the wealth, and DEVOLUTION OF WESTERN CULTURE, NOTHING MORE.

The IB program talks a good game, but when it comes to investigating THEM, they will have none of that. CENSORSHIP is what I see happening whenever Lisa or an informed parent tries to question anything. They are ridiculed, made fun of, told they are the 'only one' and brought to meetings where they are DELPHIED.

This article should explain what this program is all about.

http://thedailybell.com/2927/Deliberate-Impoverishment-of-the-Western-World

@Tony,

Great points! May I respectfully expand on one of them?

"As well, censoring those people who have differing views - or dismissing them outright because you don't agree - doesn't really reflect the qualities that the IB program and a free society is striving for."

"As well, censoring those people who have differing views - or dismissing them outright because you don't agree - doesn't really reflect the qualities that the IB program CLAIMS it is striving for, or the values and qualities a free American society really is striving for."

;-)

I've posted logical critiques on the IB web site, only to have them remove my comments. I find it ironic that the program claims to teach kids to look critically at the issues they present in the classroom, yet if you critique the program itself, they refuse to allow those comments to be read.

Good points Lisa and "Mom". I find this has been true of LOTS of places all over the country -- you are not allowed to 'inquire' about IB!!! It might reveal things that are 'unthinkable'.

Per the IB the goal of IB is to "develop attitudes," and get the students to "take action."
http://www.ibo.org/pyp/curriculum/index.cfm

The vice principal of Reno High explains how AP is superior to IB for college credit. Please re-post wherever you can under your own account and/or in different locations, as there is some pressure to remove this video from the web forever. Burn it onto a DVD if you can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBP3Yx-kDAI

The original has already been removed from the web,
http://www.rhshuskies.com/media/apvib.m4v

A few good articles on IB and what it really is from global experts.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell022604.asp
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36752

Lisa McLoughlin's opinion piece, and her follow up comments to my post, are distortions of the facts on both IB and on MVSD. Her figures on the cost of IB to MVSD could have been pulled from a hat--they bear little or no relationship whatsoever to what MVSD will pay. The district has long been a frugal one, and were those figures even remotely accurate, the district would never have pursued the IB initiative.

McLoughlin's comments regarding teacher "intimidation" when surveyed regarding opinion on IB are patently false. They would be laughable if they weren't intentionally malicious. Indeed, McLoughlin's intent in showing up, unannounced, at the meeting between the school board and Rep. Hill, complete with video camera, was to attempt a "gotcha moment". Her modus operandi was to present her bogus "facts and figures" on IB, which are really a melange of cherry-picked factoids and far-right opinions, and snow the board (and the public) with an avalanche of contrary data on everything from claims about the costs of the program, to the alleged evils of "constructivism, to the supposed un-American essence of the program. Her claims regarding IB and the MVSD are baseless and represent a scurrilous attempt to prevent the adoption of a sound educational program, one that will better prepare the district's students for the 21st century, for reasons of politics and for her own self-aggrandizement.

Well Mr Currie you are wrong. I happen to know teachers from MVSD were who requested that the reps and Lisa and other teacher whistleblowers (who I know where there) had that meeting. So you are wrong. There is no aggrandizement here, and your idea that this is some sort of academic improvement program can be disproven by merely perusing the www.ibo.org website which is CLEARLY a political agenda. Either you are a dupe, or you willingly are going along with it.

Teachers cannot speak out because they fear for their jobs.

You may choose to believe "21st century" is a "mindless buzzword from the UN", but like it or not, the 21st century is already a decade old, and educators everywhere are grappling with how best to prepare students for the challenges of living in this century:
http://www.education.nh.gov/innovations/redefining_education.htm
In the 21st century, the world will be an increasingly crowded one, in which resource scarcity and climate change are likely to play a far more prominent role than international terrorism--no matter what you choose to believe. That you can so easily discern a political agenda to which you are hostile, "by merely perusing" the IB website, is a testament to your own political agenda, rather than the facts.

Bruce,
If the goal is to prepare students for the 21st century teach them as much science and math as you can skip the touchy feely IBS. While you are at it you may want to teach them Mandarin.

Any programme who's stated goal is to "develope attitudes" and get the students to "take action" does not belong in the classroom,
http://www.ibo.org/pyp/curriculum/index.cfm
...it dosn't matter if it is the UN's ideology or Rush Limbaugh's.

Keep ALL ideology out of the classroom, that is the parents job, not yours or the districts.

Bruce -- you apparently have either not read the IBO website or you are complicit with this agenda. I want my kids taught SKILLS. There is no political agenda in that. IB teaches them, as Frank said, to latch on to global issues, many of which they have little understanding at that age, and become ACTIVISTS. I call that political activism. None of your claims about NOT wanting that being a political agenda are valid...

The facade of the IB is that it somehow prepares students for the things that MOM mentioned.. but it doesn't. It clearly states its agenda is to SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE UN, and UNESCO. How is that not political? Why should my kid have to be subject to THAT?

Mr. Currie,

Did you bother to click on the IBO fee schedule links? No, I didn't think so. You would rather rant and name-call. My cost projection for a full IB roll-out in MVCSD is documented. If you are to claiming that my numbers are "bogus", then you are also declaring IBO's website to be "bogus". Uh oh, that's a bit of a dilemma for you, no?

I find your support for IB as representative of a "21st century" education rather laughable when the former Director General of IBO, George Walker, stated the following about IB back in 2005:

http://www.ibo.org/dg/emeritus/speeches/documents/ibna_jul05.pdf

"We are beginning to look just a little old-fashioned, just a little inflexible, just a little
20th rather than 21st century."

Here it is, almost 2012, and IBO still hasn't managed to get that "open international IB college" online and operational. IBO still clings to its draconian, elitist, proprietary structure. It does not belong in American public schools. Period.

Interesting that Bruce is given the proof, right from the source (the IB org itself) and yet, that's our own political agenda? Where did you want the evidence to come from? It's their material not ours... take your hands away from your eyes please.

The Concord Monitor does fluff pieces on this bogus program. What do they think now that it has been revealed on PATCH that they won't use the program's materials or sign their mission???? What are they buying? http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/260492/school-of-how-to-learning

$9,000 a year ..... LMAO!

well, I guess when 2 x 7 doesn't matter anymore, 7 x the IB annual fee for each of the 7 schools MVCSD plans to shove IB into don't matter either, eh?

The Concord Monitor should be ashamed of itself. Where is the journalistic balance? The paper just takes martin's word for it? Lazy!

No answer from Bruce, because you can't justify buying a pet rock I guess.

http://truthaboutib.com/breakingnewsopinions.html

One more for Mr. Currie: You said "The bottom line is the program's emphasis on inquiry to spark student engagement will change how teachers teach, but have little effect on what they teach."

I beg to differ. It most certainly does change what they are teaching. Teachers I talk to do not remember having to ask kids to take a stand on world issues and then ACT ON THEM! This is purely political! Also, they never had to check ATTITUDES on a checklist, bi-weekly, to see if the kids are conforming to the UN values. (I have seen graphic evidence of this in a 3rd grade classroom)

Mr. Currie also states (while maintaining they won't change what they teach): "They will at the same time strive to model and convey the values embodied in the IB Learner Profile."

Yes indeed, those are the UNESCO/UN values embodied in IB.

Only now does he admit this is not purely academic: "There is a strong emotional component to learning, which the profile addresses. IB learners strive to be: knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. I will close with the observation that these values seem to be in short supply in your essay, and at this site."

And thus is the IB program -- their way or the highway. If you do not agree, you are somehow not "knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective."

IB proponents are hypocrites.

This is what the Superintendent is avoiding parents:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Tr1qee-bTZI
This is your problem, yet they are going to spend $200k/year on more feel-good-fuzzy values adjusting materials instead of dealing with the last bad decision made.

This will also completely debunk the fuzzy idea that "inquiry" based education is a way to improve academic knowledge: http://www.aft.org/pdfs/americaneducator/spring2012/Clark.pdf
Posted in the American Educator.

If you want to see what the purpose of IB is, just look at the content as described by IB proponents themselves. Therefore if you are picky about your sources, you will have to now refute what they are saying... can you?

http://www.mvsd-ib.org/ib/2012/03/20/political-content-of-ib-explained/

The facts are nicely summed up here for those of you who still have 'fear of the Constitutional republic' http://bedford-nh.patch.com/blog_posts/dissecting-ib-what-most-opponents-of-hb-1403-overlook