Rep. Paul Stam’s recent op-ed in EdNC.org entitled “Teacher Pay: Rhetoric vs. Reality” is yet another example of the strong confirmation bias that the senior Wake County representative suffers from in his explanation of teacher pay. And there are many different aspects of his meandering argument that could be rebutted with ease. Such as the … Continue reading Rep. Paul “Skip” Stam’s Ridiculously Below “Average” Op-Ed on Teacher Pay – I Mean, It’s Not Even Average
Author: caffeinatedrage
A Small Memoriam For Rodney Ellis
I was very saddened to hear of the shocking passing of a man much too young to be taken. Rodney Ellis was the immediate past President of NCAE, and I considered him a friend who helped me professionally and personally. I met Rodney through email. He had kindly read and responded to a couple of … Continue reading A Small Memoriam For Rodney Ellis
Open Letter to Mark Johnson, Candidate for State Supertintendent, Concerning Remarks on Poverty and Student Preparedness
Dear Mr. Johnson, I read with great interest your essay posted on EdNC.org entitled “Our American Dream” on September 7th. Because you are a member of the school board from my own district and the republican nominee for State Superintendent, I was eager to read/see/hear what might distinguish you from Dr. Atkinson. I agree that … Continue reading Open Letter to Mark Johnson, Candidate for State Supertintendent, Concerning Remarks on Poverty and Student Preparedness
Open Letter to Phil Kirk, Chairman Emeritus for the NC State Board of Education
Dear Mr. Kirk, I read with great interest your op-Ed for EdNC.org posted on September7, 2016 entitled “Outlandish myths about NC Republicans and education” (https://www.ednc.org/2016/09/07/outlandish-myths-nc-republicans-education/ ) It originally appeared in The News and Observer on September 6th . Your initial paragraph in which you recount your unparalleled service and experience with education both in public … Continue reading Open Letter to Phil Kirk, Chairman Emeritus for the NC State Board of Education
James Hogan: No, NC Republicans Haven’t Fixed Teacher Pay
This is the first time I have reblogged someone else's work and I am very glad that it is James Hogan. He is a public school advocate that I greatly admire and he is a writer of the highest caliber. Very fortunate to call him a friend and ally. I consider his work iconic and … Continue reading James Hogan: No, NC Republicans Haven’t Fixed Teacher Pay
Map It And It Becomes Very Apparent That Poverty Affects Schools
Political leanings and lenses aside, sometimes data can create a picture so vivid that it is really hard to argue against the conclusions. Last week, the state of North Carolina released its school performance grades for the 2015-2016 school year. With pretty much the same parameters kept in place, the results really did nothing but … Continue reading Map It And It Becomes Very Apparent That Poverty Affects Schools
About That Letter to the Editor in the 9/1 Winston-Salem Journal Concerning “Johnny-Come-Lately Teachers” Who “Bicker”, “Complain”, “Cry”, “Whine” and Have “Little to Zero Standing”. It Deserves a Response.
I read with great interest (actually, many people did) your “Letter to the Editor” from September 1st entitled “Grateful for the raise” (http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/the-readers-forum-friday-letters/article_9eef5d77-bcad-5c1b-9274-b1c01d9e45fc.html) that praised the actions of the current administration and the legislature concerning public education. The full text follows as a reference. “Count me in as a teacher who refuses to bicker and … Continue reading About That Letter to the Editor in the 9/1 Winston-Salem Journal Concerning “Johnny-Come-Lately Teachers” Who “Bicker”, “Complain”, “Cry”, “Whine” and Have “Little to Zero Standing”. It Deserves a Response.
Stuart Egan: What if Businesses Were Run Like Schools?
Thanks to Dr. Ravitch for posting.
In an amusing tour de force, NBCT teacher Stuart Egan (in North Carolina) poses the question, what if businesses were run like public schools?
No business leader could function under the same conditions.
Comparing schools to businesses isn’t like comparing apples to oranges, it’s like comparing apples to rocks.
For example:
“Be prepared to open up every book and have everything audited. If you are a public school, then every cent, every resource, and every line item is open to scrutiny by a variety of inspectors. Be prepared to be constantly audited and have those findings be available and open to interpretation to people outside of your business, even when those people may not know how your business operates.
“Be prepared to publicize all of the salaries of the people who work for you. ALL OF THEM. Furthermore, there would no negotiating on salaries. In fact they are all…
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Musings With Malcolm #8 – You’re a Great One, Mr. Grinch
It's summer and I just saw the Grinch. No, not the television special or the movie with Jim Carrey, but a real Grinch doll that Malcolm used for the longest time to help him sleep. And it brought back some memories of how much our house reveres the Grinch - lack of heart and all. See, … Continue reading Musings With Malcolm #8 – You’re a Great One, Mr. Grinch
Public Schools Aren’t Businesses – Don’t Believe Me? Try Running a Business as a Public School
Receiving constructive and unconstructive criticism is an inescapable reality when one writes a blog or puts out opinion pieces about public education in various media. But whether that feedback is presented as an argument to inquire, assert, or demean, it does further the conversation. In many instances it exposes the many myths concerning public education. … Continue reading Public Schools Aren’t Businesses – Don’t Believe Me? Try Running a Business as a Public School
