If the average school day in Charlotte - Mecklenburg Schools is 7 hours, then over 200,000 hours of face-to-face instruction was taken away because of "immigration operations" within the around Charlotte. "Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools did not say if the absences were connected to the ongoing immigration operation in the city." They were connected.

Art imitates life. It’s one of the reasons why teaching great works of literature is vital in a high school education. One title that is read and taught in many high school English I classes in North Carolina is Animal Farm. Animal Farm is an allegorical fable that Eric Blair (George Orwell was his pen name) uses … Continue reading Some Are More Equal Than Others – The Orwellian “Animal Farm” on West Jones Street

For those teachers who might be waiting for a new budget to pass this school year and any raises for teachers that should be included in that new budget to be reimbursed through "back pay" (like past years), don't count on it. Yes, North Carolina is the state in the country that does not have … Continue reading No NC Teacher, You Probably Will Not Get “Back Pay” For This School Year

In a state where there exists a supermajority in one chamber of the NC General Assembly and nearly another in the other chamber all while there is a governor from the opposite political party, then you know there's some gerrymandering. And it also means that many public school teachers and advocates are still voting for … Continue reading Dear NC Teacher, Please Know This About Your State. AND TELL OTHERS!

...will not even pass a new state budget to address rising costs for public K-12 schools. So this just happened: Just a quick reminder of how the current rendition of the UNC Board of Governors has been convened: That's the same North Carolina General Assembly that has done this with funding of K-12 public schools … Continue reading North Carolina: Where The Same People Who Hike Public University Tuition…

...in the country that does not have a new budget. And there is not much that would make that change this calendar year. Read that again. "In the meantime, teachers and state employees will continue going without promised raises, cuts to Medicaid rates are expected to hit local doctors and hospitals, and planned new construction … Continue reading North Carolina: The Only State…

There has not been a definitive count offered concerning the number of teachers who called out "sick" or used a personal day this past Friday and Monday as part of the recent "NC Teacher Walkout." Driven mostly by social media, it is hard to even gauge overall interest in participating, much less ascertain who actually … Continue reading Teachers Anonymous?

As a teacher in this school system, I have been not only encouraged by the outpouring of support from the community and business leaders, but have been reaffirmed by many people's willingness to help find solutions to the financial obstacles. Here is a case in point: However, what the public sees in this dynamic mix … Continue reading The Debts That WSFCS Can Never Repay

Ironic that the very people who are stopping the passing of a new budget in North Carolina have the time to go to Washington during the longest federal government shutdown in history for a photo opportunity. Or maybe not. See you, Tricia Cotham.

Not long ago (2014) , teachers who served the state for at least ten years would receive what was called “longevity” pay as part of their commitment to public schools. In fact, all full-time state employees receive this – or did. Teachers no longer get it. In the long session of 2014, the NC General … Continue reading As We Wait For A New Budget, Remember That Teachers Used To Receive Longevity Pay