James Ford's letter in response to Mark Johnson was simply power, not because he explained in no uncertain terms the lack of substance Johnson's argument had, but because he used it as a teaching tool. Ford met Johnson in the arena Johnson opened and responded by showing that the very message he is sending is … Continue reading Actually, Mark Johnson “should at the very least resign.”

On the eve of the Republican National Convention that will "take place" in Charlotte, NC (where it was originally planned to be held before it was cancelled and then rescheduled), President Trump released a list of "50 Core Priorities" for a second term if elected again. Two of those "priorities" are on education. "Provide School … Continue reading Trump’s Platform: School Choice For All And “American Exceptionalism”

This weekend Sir Kenneth Robinson passed away from a brief sickness. As an English teacher who believes that standardized tests are harmful and that our lawmakers on Raleigh seem to stifle the arts and other creative outlets for students (think Class Size Chaos), reading and observing Robinson was highly instructional. In the fifteen years I … Continue reading Rest In Creativity: Sir Kenneth Robinson

My older child just started her freshman year at a state university that she has wanted to attend since she was 4 years of age. She worked hard as a student. She did her homework. She learned from her mistakes. She learned to ask good questions. She took the SAT. The ACT. Both multiple times. … Continue reading “Aunt Becky’s” Lesson From The First Week Of School

This may not be a popular stance among all educators, but I don't necessarily want to build bridges in this state with those who are making the very divides that separate us. Yes, public education can be the ultimate bridge that spans socio-economic divides, that links the rural to the urban, that allows for social … Continue reading Mark Johnson Is Just Trying To Save Face. He Should Not Be Enabled In Doing It.

From Lt. Gov. Dan Forest this past June: Don't forget President Trump's demand from July: There was also VP Pence and Betsy DeVos: And certainly there was Phil Berger trumpeting Trump's wishes. So, it would be interesting to hear each of these elected officials comment about the number of schools that started the year with … Continue reading Revisiting Some Reopening Plans From Forest, Berger, Trump, & DeVos

No doubt many have heard about Mark Johnson's letter to State Board member James Ford. EdNC.org (as well as many other outlets) has a post concerning it. And in a tweet sent out to its followers concerning what happened, EdNC asked, "Will Superintendent Mark Johnson's letter have a chilling effect on other teachers who see … Continue reading “Will Superintendent Mark Johnson’s letter have a chilling effect on teachers?” Nope.

In June of 2019, the NC Senate passed HB 924 by an overwhelming majority. Lt. Gov. Dan Forest - who championed the bill - in one of his rare statements about actual public education other than bathrooms, vouchers, and his love for charter schools tweeted the following: While this “bill” might seem like a winner … Continue reading Maybe Dan Forest’s Personal Finance Class Requirement Should Be Extended To His Cronies

I am white. I am male. I grew up in a small rural Southern town in the !970’s and 1980’s. I come from an upper middle class family who had the resources to send me to school. And the older I become, the more I understand that I don’t understand.  I think that has made … Continue reading Writing Without Any Moral Authority: State Supt. Johnson’s Recent Letter

Three days of remote instruction. Two of those have seen major obstacles in accessing the online platform that enables that instruction. From today's N&O: For the second time this week, problems with a statewide computer system are preventing many North Carolina students and teachers from logging online for virtual classes. School districts across the state … Continue reading Still Not Willing To Take Responsibility: Mark Johnson, DPI, and Those “Technical Glitches”