Goffstown State Rep. John Hikel announced yesterday on our show that he will attempt to block the implementation of Common Core in New Hampshire by filing a Petition for Redress under Article Thirty One of the New Hampshire Constitution. The petition will seek to restore locally created, established, managed and controlled school districts and environments and eliminate interference from state and federal agencies. Hikel said support for the petition is growing in the legislature itself and that citizens can sign the Petition for Redress by visiting N H Redress dot info. He believes that if enough citizens and legislators come forward, it will force House Speaker Terri Norelli to bring the matter before the General Court. So, if you’re interested in arresting the implementation of Common Core, sign the petition at N H Redress dot info. We’ve linked to yesterday’s interview with Hikel and Goffstown resident Gus Breton and the petition itself in case you missed it.
Also on the topic of Common Core, former Manchester Superintendent of Schools Tom Brennan said he was troubled by teacher materials obtained by Girard at Large showing that they’d been produced by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, the outfit New Hampshire has chosen to administer the Common Core standardized tests. In a pointed and at times combative interview, Brennan also said persuasive writing exercises aimed at getting seven year old kids in the second grade to try and overturn parental decisions were inappropriate and would do little if anything to advance the cause of literacy. The Common Core curricular guides have come under intense scrutiny in the city and critics have raised many questions about recommended materials and topics such as this one. The use of the guides has come under fire as a result of our exposing their being used despite being tabled by the School Board’s Curriculum and Instruction Committee. We’ve linked to Brennan’s interview from this newscast at Girard at Large dot com in case you missed it.
News from our own backyard continues after this.
For the fourth time in recent weeks, sixty six year old Jeanie Dufresne dialed 9 1 1 from her apartment in Hooksett. When asked if there was an emergency, Dufresne said she had none. Dufresne just wanted someone to talk to. Dufresne was again arrested for Misuse of 9 1 1 and Breach of Bail. She refused the services of a bail commissioner and was transported to the Merrimack County Jail. Police investigators believe that watching Hooksett School Board meetings drives Dufresne to drink, resulting in her repeated calls for help to emergency services.
The Merrimack Police Department has announced that its annual Senior Fair will take place on the morning of October twenty second from from nine to eleven thirty. The fair is designed to introduce adult care givers and seniors in need to a wide range of elder care service providers in town. This year, organizers say there are more participating vendors than ever. It will be held at the Merrimack Adult Community Center. We’ve uploaded complete details of the event with this newscast at Girard at Large dot com. Be sure to take a look.
The Hillside Builders Club will host it’s 2nd annual Luke Captistran 5K Race, FUN WALK and KID’S FUN RUN, taking place at the Derryfield Park Cross Country Trail tomorrow morning. The KID’S FUN RUN begins at 9. The 5K race and FUN WALK start at 10. Other activities include: face painting, Key Club bake sale (I’ll buy if they have cupcakes!), raffles, vendor booths, and an awards ceremony. The fundraiser was created in honor of Luke Capistran, a former Hillside student. Proceeds benefit the Luke Capistran Scholarship Fund, which helps send Hillside students to Y M C A athletic camps and sport clinics during the summer. For more information on the event, please read their press release which we’ve posted with this newscast at Girard at Large dot com.
That’s news from our own backyard, Girard at Large hour ___ is straight ahead!
