This is an example from Common Core’s first grade educational curriculum as reported by a John Stossel’s Special 9/4/2014 on the Fox Business Network Thursday Nights.

Example: 32 – 12 = ?
How to work out the problem. Four equations are created. No explanation as to why or how structurally to create them.
12 +    3 = 15
15 +    5 = 20
20 + 10 = 30
30 +    2 = 32
So then you add up the second column.
3 + 5 + 10 + 2 = 20, Twenty is the correct answer subtracting 12 from 32.

A teacher who teaches Common Core Math explaining how it works responding to a question about the math using addition to do subtraction, “I don’t know why they did that?”

BUT WHAT IF YOU USED A LOWER NUMBER IN THE FIRST COLUMN?
11 +    4 = 15
14 +    6 = 20
19 + 11 = 30
29 +    3 = 32
So then you add up the second column.
4 + 6 + 11 + 3 = 24, Twenty-four is NOT the correct answer subtracting 20 from 32.

BUT WHAT IF YOU USED A HIGHER NUMBER IN THE FIRST COLUMN?
13 + 2 = 15
16 + 4 = 20
21 + 9 = 30
31 + 1 = 32
So then you add up the second column.
2 + 4 + 9 + 1 = 16, Sixteen is NOT the correct answer subtracting 20 from 32.

BUT WHAT IF I MIX THE PREVIOUS TWO EXAMPLES?
11 +    4 = 15
16 +    4 = 20
19 + 11 = 30
31 +    1 = 32
So then you add up the second column.
4 + 4 + 11 + 1 = 20, Twenty is the correct answer subtracting 20 from 32.

BUT WHAT IF I DO SOMETHING WEIRD?
15 + 0 = 15
20 + 0 = 20
30 + 0 = 30
32 + 0 = 32
So then you add up the second column.
0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 0, Zero is NOT the correct answer subtracting 20 from 32.

It does not matter how you put the four equations together so long as the middle column adds up to the correct answer.  By that the equations are irrelevant.  You do not need the first column.  You do not need to add the line equation to get their answer.  You just have to add 4 numbers to get to the answer.  But if I am a kid and do not understand subtraction then I would be totally lost.  Why am I adding stuff to do subtraction?  But if I do not know the answer I can’t put together the useless equations.  Maybe it would be helpful to learn subtraction first.

LETS TRY IT THE OLD WAY.

	32
–	12

In the ones column we subtract 2 from 2 and the remainder in the ones column is 0

	32
–	12
	0

In the tens column we subtract 1 from 3 and the remainder in the tens column is 2

	32
–	12
	20

20 is the correct answer subtracting 12 from 32.

This keeps it simple.  Conceptually with a child you could use 32 paperclips on a table.  Remove 12 paperclips showing 20 remain.

Common Core by this example is not about education but a bunch of bureaucratic non-sense, to dumb down kids, so they will be the sheep to the state. If a kid does not understand math which is man’s connection to understanding the operations of the physical world (Physics) then there is no foundation in learning, knowing one’s own identity or right and wrong. Absent critical thinking an individual can easily be deceived by others or worse government.

If you have kids check their textbooks. Like one parent on the John Stossel special noted, Now, I know why my kid is having trouble in math of which I have to pay for math tutors.

Please forward to parents who have kids, any comments are welcome.