Dan Cirucci: Common Core: Just Standards, Not Curriculum

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Common Core: Just Standards, Not Curriculum

A special message from the Cardinal Newman Society:

November 22, 2013
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Dear Friends,

It's just not true.

Since debate over the Common Core schools initiative began, proponents have defended it by stating it is "just standards, not a curriculum." But your Catholic Education Daily reported in an exclusive story this week that, Common Core Is Curriculum, Contrary to Advocates' Claims; and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has spent more than $10 million to create it.

Now that the "just-standards-not-curriculum" red herring has been eliminated, hopefully we can focus on why these standards and curriculum should be avoided by Catholic schools throughout the nation.

And that is exactly what a courageous bishop in the Midwest has done. Yesterday, Bishop David Ricken, shepherd of the Green Bay Diocese, announced that Common Core would not be used in his schools. He said, "I have instructed our diocesan Department of Education staff, school principals and school system administrators that they not 'adopt or adapt' the 'common core standards.'"

As we approach Thanksgiving and take stock of the many blessings in our lives, there is other good news to celebrate.

Yesterday we received word that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania granted a preliminary injunction against the HHS mandate for several Catholic agencies and organizations in the Dioceses of Erie and Pittsburgh. This is the first decision in favor of religious nonprofits under the HHS "final rule" and the first, in general, for Catholic institutions.

And the work of our good friend, William Peter Blatty, to restore Catholic identity to his beloved Georgetown University has garnered international media attention. The Times of London reports about Blatty's warning that the school is "flirting with demons."

Another busy week indeed, but also one that demonstrates that with faith and perseverance we can be the difference in the fight to preserve our culture.

With Fidelity to Truth,
joe

Joseph R. Giganti, Sr.
Vice President of News & Communications

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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