If You Are A Parent or Advocate of a Special Needs Child in NC Public Schools Then Read This

"The state’s funding formula does not adjust for the severity of a disability; there is a flat rate provided for each child, in spite of the fact that the cost per year for a student with profound needs can skyrocket to as high as $100,000 or more." The above excerpt is from Lindsay Wagner's report … Continue reading If You Are A Parent or Advocate of a Special Needs Child in NC Public Schools Then Read This

The Fear, Ignorance, and Unwillingness of Betsy DeVos

“I have not-- I have not-- I have not intentionally visited schools that are underperforming.” – Betsy DeVos, March 11, 2018 on 60 Minutes. In one part of the disastrous interview that Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos did with Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes, DeVos revealed what many public school advocates have been screaming about … Continue reading The Fear, Ignorance, and Unwillingness of Betsy DeVos

A Big Can of Canned Answers – That Betsy DeVos Interview on 60 Minutes

Leslie Stahl presented a segment on Betsy DeVos. Stahl's overview of DeVos, her questions, and the canned answers that DeVos gave in response are worth viewing even if it makes you cringe a little. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/secretary-of-education-betsy-devos-on-guns-school-choice-and-why-people-dont-like-her/ The link also has a transcript.

Dear State Supt. Johnson, $200 Per Teacher? How About Fight For More Per Student? Much More.

News last week that DPI is allocating almost $5 million to early grade literacy seems most welcome. As reported by Liz Bell of EdNC.org: The Department of Public Instruction is distributing a total of $4.8 million from funds allocated by the state in 2016 as part of its Read to Achieve initiative for “literacy support” in early … Continue reading Dear State Supt. Johnson, $200 Per Teacher? How About Fight For More Per Student? Much More.

Raleigh’s Use of “Revisionist History” Concerning Public Education

I could not tell you how many times a student has asked me what my SAT score was - probably to compare his/her score against mine.  (To tell you the truth, I do not remember as most colleges when I applied for school took the best combined score). The problem is that there really is … Continue reading Raleigh’s Use of “Revisionist History” Concerning Public Education

The North Carolina General Assembly’s Fear of the Veteran Public School Teacher

Veteran teachers openly discuss, study, and collaborate. And they fight for public schools. The powers that rule in the North Carolina General Assembly have been waging a war against public schools in our state for the last six years. Under the guise of “reform,” GOP conservatives driven by ALEC-crafted policies have successfully enabled and instituted … Continue reading The North Carolina General Assembly’s Fear of the Veteran Public School Teacher

Again, Poetry Matters

This past week Stephen Colbert welcomed Helen Mirren to The Late Show. A wonderfully talented stage actress whose resume includes the Royal Shakespeare Theatre continues to defy stereotypes of age. Colbert is a huge fan of poetry. He has related a story of meeting his wife in relation to a conveersation involving one of his … Continue reading Again, Poetry Matters

The Steady Determination That is the Lady Titans Soccer Team – First Ever Triad Cup Champs

A huge congratulations to the West Forsyth Lady Titans Soccer team for capturing the first ever Triad Cup Championship. Despite injuries and the need to reshuffle lineups, this team continues to do what it did last season: play for team, never give up, and display a steady consistency that many professional teams lack. In two … Continue reading The Steady Determination That is the Lady Titans Soccer Team – First Ever Triad Cup Champs

The “Legivangelists” in Raleigh, NC

Having grown up in a small town in the deep South during the 1970’s and 80’s, it was not uncommon to view televangelists on weekends, especially when only four or five channels were available to watch. Claims made by these people were seemingly noble and altruistic, but they always asked for money to do God’s … Continue reading The “Legivangelists” in Raleigh, NC

Distorting The Reality of Public Education – The NCGA’s Revisionist History

If you are a high school teacher, then you may have heard this question: “What did you get on the SAT when you took it last century?” It’s an honest question. Some students just want to see how they compared to you. Students do that. The problem is that there really is no comparable way … Continue reading Distorting The Reality of Public Education – The NCGA’s Revisionist History