Michaud: Does Newsday shut out Common Core skeptics? The data says...
People protest at the Common Core Education Forum at Ward Melville High School on Nov. 12, 2013. Credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
On Monday, Newsday ran a letter in praise of the Common Core standards from an East Moriches school librarian and professional development coordinator. Almost immediately, we received an email from a reader saying that Newsday should stop pushing our pro-Common Core agenda.
The editorial board was aghast. We don't solicit letters in support of our editorial positions. Letters are the work of readers who agree with us -- or not.
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On Monday, Newsday ran a letter in praise of the Common Core standards from an East Moriches school librarian and professional development coordinator. Almost immediately, we received an email from a reader saying that Newsday should stop pushing our pro-Common Core agenda.
The editorial board was aghast. We don't solicit letters in support of our editorial positions. Letters are the work of readers who agree with us -- or not.
Newsday's opinions appear in editorials, but the letters section is for readers. As the letters editor, I want the section to be true to public opinion on Long Island -- or at least, the public opinion that makes it to our offices via email, snail mail and other means.
So, today I counted letters, pro and con. In two years, letters have run 3-to-1 against the Common Core. But don't take my word for it. Here are two galleries of readers' opinions, in favor and against. See for yourself:
UPDATE: Anne Michaud has responded to some of the responses to this piece in the comments section below. Keep the conversation going.