Just issued by the Department of Education: And just posted by the News & Observer: “Neither students nor teachers need to be focused on high-stakes tests during this difficult time,” U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a news release Friday. “Students are simply too unlikely to be able to perform their best in this … Continue reading Dear NCGA, The Feds Waived Mandatory Standardized Tests – Time For You To Waive State Tests (And School Performance Grades)

Here's some background material. Think of it as the standards you will be covering. From the official Twitter account of Lt. Gov. Dan Forest last summer. 2. The "Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012" 3. Coronovirus Properties "There's one thing that I can tell you about this: It is much more aggressive in … Continue reading A Cross-Curricular Virtual Lesson For North Carolina High School Students From Senator Richard Burr

It has been a while since Senator Richard Burr has been discussed in this blog. In fact it has been over three years since he helped to place Betsy DeVos into President Trump's cabinet and then praised her for her "efforts." In fact he made this statement: “I’m glad that we had a lively discussion … Continue reading Care To Make A Comment About This Sen. Burr?

In the eyes of this public school teacher, Betsy DeVos's policies and lack of actual perspective when it comes to education have been worse for our public schools than Dolores Umbridge was to Hogwarts. But she has the capability of doing one really positive action for our nation's public schools in the wake of the … Continue reading Dear Betsy DeVos, Do One Positive Action For Public Schools: Waive The Requirement For Standardized Testing For All States

One of the teachers I admire the most actually teaches at the high school whose attendance zone adjoins mine. Tripp Jeffers has been (and still is) a tireless advocate for NC public schools for longer than I have been in North Carolina. He posted this today. In just the last three days in setting up … Continue reading Every Public School Teacher Should Be Awarded Digital Learning Credits After This Week

Teaching is not easy. Never has been, Never will be. And with the current situation of schools closing and people having to confront this epidemic, teaching now will be more than "not easy." Yet our students need us more than ever. What we teach is so much more than curriculum and tests. For many of … Continue reading Our Students Need Us Now More Than Ever

ask the federal government to waive requirements for federal national tests. “The Georgia Department of Education will seek the maximum authority and waivers afforded by the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies to accommodate this ever-evolving situation,” the statement said (from today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution). In an unprecedented move, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday he would … Continue reading Texas Yesterday And Georgia Today. North Carolina Should Be Next – Suspend State Testing This School Year And…

Many times over the last 20-plus summers, I have heard from many well-intentioned people that it must be nice to have a job that allows one to only work 10 months out of a year. And most of those people do not understand what all is done outside of the classroom by teachers in order … Continue reading Public School Teachers: 10-Month Employees, But 12-Month Educators

Amid meetings, gathering of resources, communications with students, creating lesson plans to deliver online, amid other concerns, I and every other public school teacher received this email: This is not even appropriate at this moment especially when the letter begins with something like "We know you are very busy with trying to deal with this … Continue reading After This Unprecedented Time In Public Education, We Should Have A Totally New Teacher Working Condition Survey