Textbook Exec Reveals Greedy Truth Behind Common Core: ‘It’s Never About the Kids’

The “Common Core” is a new set of national academic standards, now adopted by 42 states and DC, is an attempt to increase the country’s declining testing scores in Math and English compared with the rest of the world. Conservatives often argue against the K-12 system as a federal government takeover of public education, but the Obama administration insists states can set their own standards as long as they serve the same goals. Parents in some corners of the U.S. have become frustrated at test and homework questions in math that are graded not just on getting the right answer but on the necessity of following a strict system for determining it. [2] According to James O’Keefe, common core is not only a downgrade in education standards and a brainwashing program but it is also a textbook scam.  After admitting that Common Core isn’t about the educational welfare of children, Amelia Petties, Strategic Account Executive for Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt explained how lucrative Common Core has been for the textbook publishing companies. [3] “There’s always money in it,” according to Petties, who told undercover journalists with Project Veritas that rebranding Common Core would generate huge profits, kids be damned. In the video, Petties claims the Common Core curriculum is here to stay, but that “slapping a new name on it” couldn’t hurt, “Because I can sell a shit ton of training around whatever you’re calling it.” When asked whether the quality of children’s lessons ever influence the sales of textbooks, Petties replies, “It’s never about the kids.” [1] Petties’ admission makes her the second Houghton Mifflin representative to be caught on tape admitting that profits trump their textbooks’ educational value. On Tuesday, Project Veritas released another video exposing questionable comments made by Houghton-Mifflin West Coast sales manager Dianne Barrow, who made it a point to proclaim, “I hate kids.”

“I’m in it to sell books,” Barrow told undercover reporters. “Don’t even kid yourself for a heartbeat.”

“It’s all about the money,” she added. “What are you, crazy? It’s all about the money.”

“You don’t think that the educational publishing companies are in it for education, do you? No, they’re in it for the money,” she stated.

Houghton-Mifflin Senior Vice President Bianca Olson confirmed to the Daily Mail Tuesday Barrow has since been terminated. [2] According to Talking Points Memo:  The publisher on Tuesday criticized former employee Dianne Barrow’s statements on the video, noting that she is no longer with the company.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is as appalled by these comments as we expect readers will be. These statements in no way reflect the views of HMH and the commitment of our over 4,000 employees who dedicate their lives to serving teachers and students every day,” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt CEO Linda Zecher said in a statement to TPM. “The individual who made these comments is a former employee who was with HMH for less than a year. [9]

“Common Core, just another fad. I mean it’s the same stuff we have been teaching forever, they just packaged it different. Sparked it up, put some glitter on it and it is now the Common Core,” stated Katrina Myers, a teacher in Klamath Falls, OR.  “That’s another money making machine,” a Colorado teacher confirmed in the video, talking about Common Core. [3] “Corporate cronyism and underhanded political deals have contributed to Common Core’s massive disruption and the unraveling of America’s educational fabric,” said Project Veritas’ president, James O’Keefe. [4] The new video threatens to blow open the national debate about the national standards, which have simmered on the back-burner of Republican debates but haven’t taken hold as much as immigration or foreign policy.  Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has advocated in favor of Common Core, arguing that participating states aren’t restricted from setting their own standards.  Sen. Marco Rubio, his in-state rival, says on his website that ‘Common Core has been used by the Obama administration to turn the Department of Education into a national school board. This effort to coerce states into adhering to national curriculum standards is not the best way to help our children attain the best education, and it must be stopped.’  Donald Trump, the GOP’s leading presidential candidate, said in July that ‘Common Core has to be ended. It’s a disaster. It’s a way of taking care of the people in Washington that, frankly, I don’t even think they give a damn about education, half of them..’ [2]