When personalities are placed before principles, then people suffer. When partisan politics are placed before the public good, then people suffer. In the wake of the Parkland, FL school mass shooting, almost every state legislature at least brought forth legislation or formed a committee to suggest legislation to address how to stop the possibility of … Continue reading The Failure of the NCGA to Address Lack of School Psychologists

In the state of North Carolina, over 56% of the state budget is dedicated to public education, most of which goes to K-12 (and pre-K) education. It's specifically stated in Article IX of the state constitution that the state establish a free and viable means of educating school age-children. Sec. 2.  Uniform system of schools. … Continue reading Teachers Should Be Political

400 years since he died. Four centuries. Multiple generations. New countries discovered. And we still read his work and revere it as a mirror of human nature. There is a bit of a revival taking place in some schools involving Shakespeare. The Common Core asks that student in each grade level come engage with Shakespeare … Continue reading “Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be” – What Shakespeare Teaches Us About Education Reform in North Carolina

If you braved the cold temps in January and attended the Class Size Chaos Rally in Raleigh, you probably ran into Jen Mangrum. She was there to lend support. If you came to the May 16th Rally and March, then you probably came within feet of her. She was there. Mangrum is an educator. In … Continue reading District 30 – Mangrum Vs. Berger: Maybe the Most Important General Assembly Race in the State Concerning Public Education

When Duke University's Children’s Law Center’s released its March 2017 report called SCHOOL VOUCHERS IN NORTH CAROLINA : THE FIRST THREE YEARS one of the most glaring aspects of the program was how many vouchers were being used at religiously affiliated schools. Some of the observations of the study included: Approximately 93% of the vouchers have been … Continue reading North Carolina Faith Leaders for Public Education – Using the Good Book To Support Public Schools

(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 Combating The North Carolina General Assembly’s Fear Of A Well-Educated General Public – Voting in November Helps

The term “status quo” has become something of a nebulous term for public education and has evolved into a powerful logical fallacy used by reformers and politicians. Consider the following: “The heat is already intense not just because it involves the future of our children but also because a lot of money is at stake. … Continue reading Don’t Fall For The “Status Quo” Fallacy Concerning Public Education