(1) General and uniform system: term. The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools, which shall be maintained at least nine months in every year, and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students. – NC State Constitution. There is one thing that the … Continue reading The North Carolina General Assembly’s Greatest Fear – A Well-Educated General Public
Month: March 2018
“At” The Table or “On” the Table – The Need for Teacher Input in Educational “Reform”
You can be either “at” the table or “on” the table. For teachers in North Carolina, there are many other prepositions that could identify the relationship between the legislation process and teacher input such as “under” the table, “without” a place at the table, or “behind” the table. As a veteran public school teacher, … Continue reading “At” The Table or “On” the Table – The Need for Teacher Input in Educational “Reform”
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If You Are A Parent or Advocate of a Special Needs Child in NC Public Schools Then Read This
"The state’s funding formula does not adjust for the severity of a disability; there is a flat rate provided for each child, in spite of the fact that the cost per year for a student with profound needs can skyrocket to as high as $100,000 or more." The above excerpt is from Lindsay Wagner's report … Continue reading If You Are A Parent or Advocate of a Special Needs Child in NC Public Schools Then Read This
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The Fear, Ignorance, and Unwillingness of Betsy DeVos
“I have not-- I have not-- I have not intentionally visited schools that are underperforming.” – Betsy DeVos, March 11, 2018 on 60 Minutes. In one part of the disastrous interview that Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos did with Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes, DeVos revealed what many public school advocates have been screaming about … Continue reading The Fear, Ignorance, and Unwillingness of Betsy DeVos
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A Big Can of Canned Answers – That Betsy DeVos Interview on 60 Minutes
Leslie Stahl presented a segment on Betsy DeVos. Stahl's overview of DeVos, her questions, and the canned answers that DeVos gave in response are worth viewing even if it makes you cringe a little. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/secretary-of-education-betsy-devos-on-guns-school-choice-and-why-people-dont-like-her/ The link also has a transcript.
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Dear State Supt. Johnson, $200 Per Teacher? How About Fight For More Per Student? Much More.
News last week that DPI is allocating almost $5 million to early grade literacy seems most welcome. As reported by Liz Bell of EdNC.org: The Department of Public Instruction is distributing a total of $4.8 million from funds allocated by the state in 2016 as part of its Read to Achieve initiative for “literacy support” in early … Continue reading Dear State Supt. Johnson, $200 Per Teacher? How About Fight For More Per Student? Much More.
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Raleigh’s Use of “Revisionist History” Concerning Public Education
I could not tell you how many times a student has asked me what my SAT score was - probably to compare his/her score against mine. (To tell you the truth, I do not remember as most colleges when I applied for school took the best combined score). The problem is that there really is … Continue reading Raleigh’s Use of “Revisionist History” Concerning Public Education
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The North Carolina General Assembly’s Fear of the Veteran Public School Teacher
Veteran teachers openly discuss, study, and collaborate. And they fight for public schools. The powers that rule in the North Carolina General Assembly have been waging a war against public schools in our state for the last six years. Under the guise of “reform,” GOP conservatives driven by ALEC-crafted policies have successfully enabled and instituted … Continue reading The North Carolina General Assembly’s Fear of the Veteran Public School Teacher
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Again, Poetry Matters
This past week Stephen Colbert welcomed Helen Mirren to The Late Show. A wonderfully talented stage actress whose resume includes the Royal Shakespeare Theatre continues to defy stereotypes of age. Colbert is a huge fan of poetry. He has related a story of meeting his wife in relation to a conveersation involving one of his … Continue reading Again, Poetry Matters
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The Steady Determination That is the Lady Titans Soccer Team – First Ever Triad Cup Champs
A huge congratulations to the West Forsyth Lady Titans Soccer team for capturing the first ever Triad Cup Championship. Despite injuries and the need to reshuffle lineups, this team continues to do what it did last season: play for team, never give up, and display a steady consistency that many professional teams lack. In two … Continue reading The Steady Determination That is the Lady Titans Soccer Team – First Ever Triad Cup Champs
caffeinated rage 