(1) General and uniform system: term. The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools, which shall be maintained at least nine months in every year, and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students.  – NC State Constitution. There is one thing that the … Continue reading Combating The NCGA’s Fear Of A Well-Educated General Public – Reason #33 To March For Students & Rally for Respect On May 16th

Memes- a new best friend. And the movie 300 - spray-painted abs and the best collection of one-syllable words in one movie.  

“Less than stellar.” That’s what State Superintendent Mark Johnson said about his January 2018 comments concerning teacher pay in rural counties. It’s one of the first times that he has been correct in gauging his performance as the top public school official in the state. But in truth, Johnson’s entire tenure as state superintendent has … Continue reading The “Less Than Stellar” Comments About Teacher Pay From the State Superintendent – Another Reason to March For Students & Rally for Respect On May 16th

Rally (noun) – 1a : a mustering of scattered forces to renew an effort 2: a mass meeting intended to arouse group enthusiasm (merriam-webster.com) It is the right of every American to come together and peacefully speak out for an issue. What someone rallies for speaks for their interests and values. When a lawmaker or an elected official attends a … Continue reading When Your State Superintendent Won’t “Rally” For Public Schools – Reason #31 To March For Students & Rally for Respect On May 16th

By now many of you have read a recent op-ed printed by the Raleigh News & Observer entitled “Why this Durham teacher isn't going to Raleigh May 16.” It is written by a Math I teacher named Terry McCann who makes the argument that teachers who will be protesting on May 16th are doing so … Continue reading About That “Why this Durham teacher isn’t going to Raleigh May 16” Op-Ed in the N&O

Raleigh, N.C. – North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore noted Monday that North Carolina’s teacher income is rising faster than any state in the country since 2014, according to available data. Over the combined period of 2014, 2015 and 2016 budget years, North Carolina gave the largest percentage salary increase to teachers in the United States, … Continue reading When Tim Moore Says, “North Carolina’s Teacher Income is Rising Faster Than Any State in the Country Since 2014,” 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

To Every Young Teacher in North Carolina's Public Schools: I first want to tell you that I admire what you have chosen to do as a career. Teaching in today’s public schools is not easy. I know as I am in my 20th year of teaching. I still love my job. I still love being with … Continue reading We Want Young Teachers to Become Veteran Teachers – Reason #30 To March For Students & Rally for Respect On May 16th

As a teacher, I cannot legally give a student an aspirin tablet. My high school has five counselors for over 2400 students. There is one part-time social worker. There is one school psychologist assigned to multiple schools at one time. A school nurse is on campus only one day a week. As a country we … Continue reading The Only “Arming” of Teachers Should be Done With Resources and Fully Funded Schools – Reason #29 To March For Students & Rally for Respect On May 16th