It has been a rather trying few years for teachers and other educators in public schools. It is all a continuing reminder of what all goes into this job that most of us do not actually call a job, but maybe a calling. And it makes me again ask that question: so what is the … Continue reading Exactly What Is The Job Description Of A Public School Teacher Here In North Carolina?

Think of all of the factors that affect how well public schools can operate. Now take all of those factors and divide them up by who is responsible for them: elected officials and teachers. Here is the distribution: Actually there is one under the teachers column. If you want to blame teachers for the current … Continue reading Want To Know Who Is To Blame For What Ails Public Education? IT’S NOT TEACHERS OR ADMINISTRATORS.

Sen. Phil Berger and his cronies including people like Tricia Cotham have had 12 years to “improve” our public education system. 12. The number of grades in a standard progression through a public school. Here are a few of the actions taken in those 12 years. 1. Teacher Pay Kept Well Below National Average 2. Removal of … Continue reading You Can’t Put “Kids First” If You Put Teachers Last

With all of the talk about the rather misnamed “Parents’ Bill of Rights” legislation just passed in the NC General Assembly, it seems obvious that the aim of those in Raleigh is to weaken public education even further. To have a bill when introduced that literally said “to enumerate the rights of parents to DIRECT … Continue reading Actually, NC Needs A Students’ Bill Of Rights.

When Pat McCrory was governor, the GOP super majority then changed budget protocol and made the state budget a biennial process. In an odd-numbered year, a budget is set forth to encompass the next two fiscal years. Amendments to the budget can be made in even-numbered years. Furthermore, if a budget is not passed, then … Continue reading Please Understand What Not Passing A State Budget Does To Public Schools In NC

By 2017, North Carolina was one of only one of 14 states that had state laws that governed school calendars. The graphic below is from the Feb. 2017 Final Report to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee on school calendars. What is also shows is that North Carolina was at the time was one of the … Continue reading Our School Systems Need Calendar Flexibility

It is not surprising to see a headline such as this one with the current environment. It is not my job to cast blame on all of the people whose students have not been attending school for significant amounts of time. Teach long enough and you begin to understand that there's a lot that you … Continue reading Attendance Matters

From the Tampa Bay Times: Three years later, some Florida school districts are shying away from Shakespeare, along with other classic and popular materials. They say they’re attempting to comply with new state law restricting books with and instruction about sexual content. 400 years since he died. Four centuries. Multiple generations. New countries discovered. And … Continue reading The Canker-Blossoms In Florida Are Censoring Shakespeare When They Could Learn So Much From Him

What a veteran teacher received ten years ago compared to what a veteran teacher who would start a career in NC today is quite startling. Not only is there a significant loss in projected income but ramifications on being able to get health care after retirement and not having to fear reprisal in standing up … Continue reading No Matter What Budget Is Passed, This NCGA Does Not Want Veteran Public School Teachers