The above is a graphic proudly shown on the Sen. Phil Berger-enabled propaganda website http://www.ncteacherraise.com. There are a lot of "spun" numbers and claims on this website that are easily debunked with more context and clarity. That figure as it stands actually is correct, but it includes all of the advanced degree pay still given to … Continue reading Local Supplements For Teachers Mean More Than You May Think

Teachers in North Carolina received the following email from the State Superintendent last week as the school year ended for students. Thank you for all your work over the 2018-19 school year. This year brought unprecedented challenges. Your dedication to students helped us overcome these challenges and is so greatly appreciated — especially here at … Continue reading About That Email from Mark Johnson Concerning “Important Updates”

The following "Letter to the Editor" appeared in the June 15th edition of the Winston-Salem Journal: Partisan school elections Many Republicans believe that the Democratic Party has an anti-American agenda, and that its teachers indoctrinate our children to anti-Capitalism, anti-patriotism and occasionally anti-Christianity. The long-term results of this indoctrination are now clearly seen as we … Continue reading About That Letter to the Editor Concerning Teacher “Indoctrination”

Art imitates life. It’s one of the reasons why teaching great works of literature is vital in a high school education. One title that is read and taught in many high school English I classes in North Carolina is Animal Farm. Animal Farm is an allegorical fable that Eric Blair (George Orwell was his pen name) uses … Continue reading Some Are More Equal Than Others – The Orwellian “Animal Farm” on West Jones Street

"All schools are equal. Some are just more equal than others." - A rewording of one of the change commandments from Animal Farm by George Orwell. If you want yet another example of how the NCGA seems to treat some  better than others then just look at a recent provision in the proposed budget of … Continue reading The NCGA Senate’s Hypocrisy in Funding Early Colleges in NC

I believe every policy maker who touts “personalized learning” and screams  “differentiated instruction” in our schools to reach every child maximally should sit in on some IEP meetings – the tough ones where parents and schools struggle to find what is not only appropriate for the student, but how those needs will be met. And … Continue reading Dear Supt. Mark Johnson and NCGA, You Are Invited to My Son’s Next IEP Meeting (And While You Are At It, Spend a Day Following an EC Teacher)

Last month a publication concerning the influence of Pearson Education was released entitled “Pearson 2025: Transforming teaching and privatising educational data.” It’s startling to read and yet it’s not so hard to conceive of the conclusions that both researchers come to. And yes, “privatising” is correctly spelled as Pearson is based in London and their … Continue reading “PEARSONALIZING” Education in North Carolina

“At DPI, we want to transform our education system to one that uses 21st century best practices so students and educators have access to unique learning experiences personalized for their individual needs and aspirations.” – Mark Johnson from “North Carolina Public Schools Accelerating into 2018” in December of 2017 on EdNC.org. In 2018 we saw a … Continue reading “PERSONalized Learning” is Best When PEOPLE Are Involved, Not Screens

In 2012, Lynn Bonner, Jane Stancill, and David Raynor of the Raleigh News & Observer wrote an article entitled "How companies can turn a profit running public schools." It should be required reading for public school advocates. In it they discussed how charter school chains are allowed to operate in North Carolina and how some … Continue reading Paying to Play? Outsourcing Public Education (and Dollars) to Out-of-State Charter Chains

“If our action in keeping men out of women’s bathrooms and showers protected the life of just one child or one woman from being molested or assaulted, then it was worth it. North Carolina will never put a price tag on the value of our children. They are precious and priceless.” - Dan Forest, April, … Continue reading The Hypocrisy of Lt. Gov. Dan Forest on Charter Schools and Medicaid Expansion