12 noon: First day of Common Core testing
1pm: The Vietnam veteran who went back
At noon, we mark the first day of Common Core testing. Parents have asked about opting out. We look at how districts are approaching the issue, including the controversial "sit and stare" scenario. WXXI's Helene Biandudi-Hofer has reported on the issue extensively, and she updates us on what districts are doing. We'll hear from parents, and we'll talk to a private school about their decision not to use Common Core standards.
At 1pm, former NY state Assemblyman Rolly Kidder is the rare Vietnam veteran who went back, many years later. Kidder wanted to know what Vietnam is like, 40 years after he served in the "Brown Water Navy." Was the war worth fighting? What do the Vietnamese think of Americans today? Kidder also traveled across North America to track down the families of three men who died alongside him. We learn his unique insights, as he tours to promote his new book, "Backtracking in Brown Water."