Gov. Roy Cooper submitted his last proposed budget as the top official in North Carolina this past week and as with all of his proposed budgets, he is calling for raises in teacher pay. "The budget includes an average 8.5% teacher raise plus a $1,500 retention bonus for most teachers..." And his proposed budget does … Continue reading They Will Raise Teacher Pay This Summer – For One Reason

My grandmother graduated from high school right after the end of WWII. My mother graduated from high school in the late 1960s. I graduated from high school in the 1980s, and decades later I am watching another class graduate from the public high where I am about finish my 26th year of teaching. And just in … Continue reading The “Back When I Was In School” Fallacy – When Lawmakers Claim That Our Schools Are Getting Worse

Over the last few years, the largest obstacles and tallest hurdles concerning giving exams dealt with technological issues. That’s because a vast majority of them were online. Knock out the Ethernet connections to a couple of buildings, have a bad connection in another building, and then some scattered wireless availability in a couple of other … Continue reading Give Schools and Students The Choice to Take Paper & Pencil Versions Of State Tests

As the North Carolina General Assembly gathers for a new session, it has already been hinted that vouchers will be expanded yet again. NC has the least transparent voucher system in the country. Additionally, vouchers hurt public schools. And here in NC, most vouchers go to church-run/religious schools. And many of them really want that … Continue reading A “Billion Dollar Choice” With Billions In Surplus But They Want To Give Vouchers To Whom?

Former Rep. Larry Pittman is no stranger to public school advocates and those who have been calling for changes in North Carolina about how we treat our citizens. Remember when he wanted to give teachers guns in schools? A North Carolina lawmaker says allowing teachers to bring guns to school would save lives in situations … Continue reading Damn! Even This Guy Won’t Vote For Mark Robinson

When an NC lawmaker makes a claim about how well he has treated public education, the whole story may not be told – only a glossy version. In this season of electioneering, it is important to know that the biggest part of the iceberg is under the water level where most people do not look. … Continue reading Debunking 10 Common Electioneering Claims Made by Current Politicians Concerning NC’s Public Schools

Below is a table that tallies the top step salaries for teachers with a Master’s Degree in North Carolina without adjustment for inflation. It starts with 2006-2007 school year. Imagine being a teacher who starts in each of those years looking at the salary schedule to see what could be possible when you reach the … Continue reading A History Of Not Raising Teachers’ Pay In NC: 2006-2024

It's not a surprise at all. In fact, it was expected and it helps to set up what happens after her term expires. That press release reads: Rep. Tricia Cotham has been appointed chair of the House Education Appropriations Committee to oversee education appropriations, the largest area of the state budget. This esteemed leadership position … Continue reading Surprise! Tricia Cotham Named Chair Of House Education Appropriations Committee. Then On To The Charter School Industry?

Funny that Michele Morrow continues to “care” about the teachers in NC public schools that she never wanted her own kids to be around in the first place. Having seen her earlier posts from a deleted account, it just makes this recent tweet seem nothing more than sanitized bullsh*t. Furthermore, trying to capitalize off an … Continue reading Her Top Priority Is To “Restore Civility, Respect, And Discipline In NC Schools” – Schools She Has Never Been In.

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 So, You Think Public Education Is Not Good In NC? Teachers Are The Last People You Should Blame.