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I am posting a recent article that was released today regarding the Common Core:

Mental Health Professional Denied Speaking Slot at King Common Core

Community Forum

On Tuesday, November 26th, NYSED Commissioner Dr. John King is holding

a Community Forum on Long Island at the Eastport-South Manor High School

in Manorville, NY from 6:00-8:00 PM.

The only Mental Health professional in New York State who is publicly

speaking out on the subject of the Common Core, Mary Calamia

respectfully requested the opportunity to speak and present a

statement on record regarding the mental health ramifications of the

Common Core State Standards before Dr. King.

Ms. Calamia was denied the opportunity to present this important

statement to Dr. King. The reason was she does not reside in Senator

LaValle’s district.

The following is the statement Ms. Calamia wanted to present at the

Community Forum:

Statement for NYS Education Commissioner John King

My name is Mary Calamia and I am a licensed clinical social worker. I

want to thank you for bringing us the Common Core. Business has never

been better.

If not for the Common Core, I would never have met the 8 year old who

is so afraid of the Spring exams, she has to be medicated just to go

to school.

Or the 4th grader who vomits every morning, certain that he is "the

stupidest kid in the class."

Or the lady who has to leave work early, her job in jeopardy, because

her 7th grader becomes so hysterical over his homework, she fears for

his safety.

Or the 6 year old boy who is scratching the skin off of his face,

drawing blood every time he does his homework.

Or the 8 year old who picks his skin obsessively and has to go to

school with band aids all over his face.

Or the honor student who carved the word "stupid" into her wrist with

a razor blade after last year's math assessment scores came out.

Without the Common Core, I would not be working 10 to 12 hours days

without a break just to treat all of the young people streaming into

my practice with anxiety, depression, self mutilation, panic attacks,

insomnia, school refusal, and a host of other maladies.

I thank you for the emergency phone calls at all hours of the night

and the countless interrupted meals, leisure activities, and family

occasions when I have had to address a "homework meltdown" that could

not be resolved without professional intervention.

How many more children will you send my way? How far do you plan to go

with this disaster that you call "education" but more closely

resembles child endangerment? How desperate are you to be right? What

will it take for you to do the right thing?

Contact: Mary Calamia (631) 675-0080, mcalamiacsw@aol.com

Copyright 2013 - Mary Calamia, LCSW, CASAC