David Vitter, the Republican U.S. senator from Louisiana who is running for the governorship, has made a turnabout on the Common Core curriculum, going from staunch supporter to fervent opponent,
The Daily Caller reported.
In an email to backers, Vitter said he had lately become convinced that under President Barack Obama the standards might be politically exploited and that state control could not be guaranteed.
"After listening to literally thousands of parents, teachers, and others," he wrote, "I don't believe that we can achieve that Louisiana control, buy-in and success I'm committed to if we stay in Common Core."
Vitter indicated that Louisiana's citizens were being reasonable in their concern that the federal government would launch a "takeover" of educational policy under "Obama and his far-left allies."
Before shifting positions
Vitter had argued that some Common Core opponents were against it without even having read up on it. He said that as governor he would implement the standards while protecting the state's prerogatives.
He now says that as governor he would establish a commission to draft new, Louisiana-specific standards, according to the Caller.
Supporters say that Common Core sets reading and math standards — while not prescribing a particular curriculum — for pupils from kindergarten through high school. It has the backing of the Louisiana business community.
The Caller said that by coming out against the standards, Vitter solidifies support among grassroots conservatives while reducing the chances of being blind-sighted from the right.
Outgoing Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is barred from seeking re-election by term limits, also went from supporter to ardent opponent of Common Core, going so far as to issue executive orders and launching lawsuits against his appointed education secretary, John White.
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