Imagine the state of public education in North Carolina right before the Great Recession. The “sides” are sound and strong. There is support from the state government on all sides. Look at those four sides as four different categories that need to be fairly monitored closely and supported adequately to keep public education going strong. … Continue reading They Are Tearing Down The Once Strong Walls Of NC Public Education

Take a look at the states that surround North Carolina. While NC shares a border with 4 other states, it does not take long to travel to some others. Some lawmakers like to construct "favorable" comparisons to other southeastern states to make the argument that we as a state are fairly treating our teachers. Hogwash. … Continue reading 9 Of 10 Southeastern States Give Graduate Degree Pay To Teachers. Guess Who Does Not.

If you have driven on North Carolina's interstates in the last couple of weeks, you may have seen one of these billboards: The Winston-Salem Journal did a story on the person who started this campaign and the website PayNCTeachers.com. It's nice to see a billboard sponsored by a successful businessman who sees the value of … Continue reading Have You Seen Those Billboards? Visit PayNCTeachers.com

“You expect at least eight weeks paid vacation per year because that is what the taxpayers of North Carolina gave you back when you were a poorly compensated teacher.” – Sen, David Curtis in May of 2014 in response to a teacher letter. “I suspect that most people, if told they could work 10 months a year … Continue reading Summers Are Not Paid Vacations For Teachers – Far From It

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 not “behind” those closed doors. As a veteran public school … Continue reading “At” The Table or “On” the Menu: Reclaiming A Voice As Teachers in Public School Policy

If you teach long enough in the public schools, you will be fortunate enough to come across some great individuals who coach sports teams all the while teaching these very players lessons of life and success even in the wake of defeat. And I want to scream that they need to have much higher stipends. … Continue reading Public School Coaches Need Much Higher Stipends – ALL OF THEM!

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 Vote As If Their Jobs Depended On It (Because It Does)

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. Some even think it’s a nine month commitment. And most of those people do not understand what all is done … Continue reading Public School Teachers: 10-Month Employees, But 12-Month Educators

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 do not … Continue reading Attendance Matters – Two Policies All Schools Need To Have

Still have a hard time seeing how Michele Morrow can run on a platform of character development and civility. She tweeted this today: Hard to see how Morrow's older social media posts make her a viable candidate to push for "character development." https://www.youtube.com/embed/qcGu2XW5o4Q?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent And there’s this. And this: But look at that tweet from today a … Continue reading Michele, That School You Are Campaigning On Is Not Even In North Carolina