Monday Musings: The Beat of the CCSS Machine

The Playlist:

I’m setting up a playlist of song titles that I think Common Core makers who run the CCSS Machine (meaning not just the Standards, but all the products, services, initiatives, programs, curricula, and other money making aspects) would be spinning at the DJ booth, if they had one. The songs below are in no particular order. Song titles may be the real ones or parody versions I’ve come up with to suit the topic. It’s my one day of musing, so I’m doing it in style. I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to create your own and share them in the comments.

“I’ll Be Watching You”, the Police, 1983;  what the data miners would sing.

“I Wrote the Standards That Makes the Whole World Cringe” (parody of Barry Manilow’s “I Write the Songs”, 1975); the authors of CCSS didn’t stop at standards, now did they?

“Teenage Wasteland”, the Who, 1971 (where the teens are headed with a CCSS education)

“I Wanna Be Like You”, from the Disney movie, “The Junglebook”, Louis Prima, 1967;  How a one-size-fits-all school chant might be.

“A Spoonful of Sugar”, from the Disney movie, “Mary Poppins”, Julie Andrews, 1964; (there’s not enough sugar in the whole to swallow the crud that accompanies the CCSS)

“Goldfinger”, from the Bond film of the same name, Shirley Bassey, 1970; what the profiteers may sing on their way to the bank.  My hope is that the “Midas Touch” becomes their issue on the way there.

For the Victims of the Core:

“Caught in a Trap”, Elvis, 1969; Dedicated to the teachers and school employees ensnared against their wishes by Common Core.

“No Way Out”, Jefferson Starship, 1984; Dedicated to all those who feel they have no choice about Common Core Standards in their lives.

“I Can’t Rely on You”, Paloma Faith, 2013; Dedicated to all who’ve discovered the truth..we can’t rely on CCSS for anything good in education.

“Two Steps Behind”, Def Leppard, 1996; Self fulfilling legacy of CCSS.

Songs for the Warriors:
“I Hate Everything About You”, Three Days Grace, 2003 (while I don’t know this song, the title says all I feel towards Common Core)

“I’m Packing You In”, Bryan Adams; This is a song I’d love to sing as I’m delivering a final blow to the CCSS Machine.

“Rebel Yell”, Billy Idol; What our united voices may sound like as we fight against the Common Core.

“Another One Bites the Dust”, Queen; I’m reserving this one for each of the authors and main profiteers of the Core.

“Keep Your Standards to Yourself”, (a parody of the song by the Georgia Satellites, titled “Keep Your Hands to Yourself”)

“Hit the Road, Jack”, Ray Charles; our message on a daily basis to the CCSS Machine!

And the anthem I’d most like to shout are the words of the chorus from Martina McBride’s hit, “Independence Day” as follows, “Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay, it’s Independence Day
Roll the stone away, it’s Independence Day”
(Read more: Martina McBride – Independence Day Lyrics | MetroLyric

So, get out there today, kick butt against the CCSS Machine and sing any of the above songs that express your gumption (sass) and how you’d use it to fight for educational freedom!