Public Schools First NC (PSFNC.org), an organization that supports advocacy of public education in North Carolina, regularly sends out very informative factoids through social media that give texture to the landscape of the politics associated with public education. With the current recess of the General Assembly after its disastrous budget proposal for public education, … Continue reading The NCGA’s Plan to Make School Performance Grades Fuel Voucher Expansion
Public Education
North Carolina Should Get Back to the ROOTS of the Teaching Fellows Program, Not Just the STEM
It is rather odd that in the same session that produced the nebulous and de-professionalizing SB599 bill a sanitized and highly truncated version of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program was reintroduced. As reported by Matthew Adams in the “Under The Dome” section of the News & Observer on July 1st, North Carolina will pay … Continue reading North Carolina Should Get Back to the ROOTS of the Teaching Fellows Program, Not Just the STEM
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The Stench of SB599 – Raleigh Knows Why We Have a Teacher Shortage. They Created It.
“The overall premise of this bill is to ensure that we have a proper teacher pipeline going into the schools.” - Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, R- Wilkes, in response to questions about SB599 on House floor in Raleigh on June 26. Senate Bill 599 is the bill (as Alex Granados from EdNC.org reports), that, “allows organizations … Continue reading The Stench of SB599 – Raleigh Knows Why We Have a Teacher Shortage. They Created It.
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North Carolina’s Quest to Make Veteran Teachers Extinct
The powers that rule in the North Carolina General Assembly have been waging a war against public schools in our state for the last four years. Under the guise of “reform,” GOP conservatives driven by ALEC-crafted policies have successfully enabled and instituted privatization efforts in many forms: unregulated charter school development, expansive growth of unproven … Continue reading North Carolina’s Quest to Make Veteran Teachers Extinct
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Dear Sen. Jerry Tillman, You Are Making Treebeard Very Angry and You Can’t Gerrymander Ents
Even before he dropped the gavel on the Senate Finance Committee meeting, Sen. Jerry Tillman, a notoriously cantankerous Republican from Randolph County, seemed to be in a particularly bad mood. He mumbled about being angry. He barked at audience to take their seats, lest he start selling tickets. And with eight bills to plow through — … Continue reading Dear Sen. Jerry Tillman, You Are Making Treebeard Very Angry and You Can’t Gerrymander Ents
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Become An Ordained Teacher Online Now! – Sen. Chad Barefoot’s SB599
If you grew up in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, you might be familiar with a landmark television show called Northern Exposure which aired on CBS on Mondays during the 10 PM time slot. It was about a quirky, eccentric small Alaskan town called Cicely who had literally secured the services of an Ivy-League … Continue reading Become An Ordained Teacher Online Now! – Sen. Chad Barefoot’s SB599
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The Interrogatophobia of Betsy DeVos – Or, The Secretary’s Kryptonite
Interrogatophobia – (noun) The fear of being asked a straightforward question This post is not to dissect the various times that Betsy DeVos has appeared before a congressional committee to comment on her impending confirmation or her policies for protecting all students under the umbrella of civil rights. As the leader of the nation’s public … Continue reading The Interrogatophobia of Betsy DeVos – Or, The Secretary’s Kryptonite
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School is Never Really Over – Thinking of Sen. David Curtis and “Summer Vacations”
It is the first day of “summer vacation” and at this time of year I am reminded of the iconic response to a teacher’s letter back in 2014 by one Sen. David Curtis. It’s worth rereading for me at least because Sen. Davis Curtis’s response to Sarah Wiles literally started my foray into public school … Continue reading School is Never Really Over – Thinking of Sen. David Curtis and “Summer Vacations”
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Where In The World Is State Superintendent Mark Johnson?
Last week ended the regular school year for at least many of us in the state who teach in traditional public schools and it was ironic to see that many teachers were having to wait until after "grade verification" deadlines passed before they could get test scores back from state and local entities. I understand. … Continue reading Where In The World Is State Superintendent Mark Johnson?
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When a North Carolina Lawmaker Says, “Well, We Are Spending More on Education Than Ever Before,” Then Consider This
Say in 2008, a school district had 1000 students in its school system and spent 10 million dollars in its budget to educate them. That’s a 10,000 per pupil expenditure. Now in 2017, that same district has 1500 students and the school system is spending 11.5 million to educate them. That district is spending more … Continue reading When a North Carolina Lawmaker Says, “Well, We Are Spending More on Education Than Ever Before,” Then Consider This
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