Actually, I have been his father and dad for over ten years. But this past week, our family received a diagnosis that our son has autism. So now we are a family with an autistic child who happens to have Down Syndrome. Or we have a child who just happens to have both Down Syndrome … Continue reading I Just Became the Father of a Child With Autism
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Local Supplements Mean More Than You Think
North Carolina can make the claim that the average teacher salary is over $50,000 / year. That is at least until it gets rid of its veteran teachers. T. Keung Hui’s report for McClatchy Regional News entitled “N.C. teachers are now averaging more than $50,000 a year” clearly shows that average salary is being bolstered … Continue reading Local Supplements Mean More Than You Think
About That NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey – The Glaring Disconnect Between the NCGA and Reality
The North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions survey is open for teachers this month. I submitted mine just this week. The survey happens once every two years. This is the first one with Mark Johnson as the state superintendent. And I have one big (among smaller ones) complaint about the survey: it should ask teachers views … Continue reading About That NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey – The Glaring Disconnect Between the NCGA and Reality
We Should Go Back to the 7-Period School Day
Okay. I am just going to throw this out there. I want the seven-period school day back. It’s better for schools. It’s better for teachers. But most of all, it is better for students. Many school systems have been on a block schedule for many, many years and there are many teachers who probably love … Continue reading We Should Go Back to the 7-Period School Day
The North Carolina General Assembly’s Greatest Fear – A Well-Educated General Public
(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 The North Carolina General Assembly’s Greatest Fear – A Well-Educated General Public
“At” The Table or “On” the Table – The Need for Teacher Input in Educational “Reform”
You can be either “at” the table or “on” the table. For teachers in North Carolina, there are many other prepositions that could identify the relationship between the legislation process and teacher input such as “under” the table, “without” a place at the table, or “behind” the table. As a veteran public school teacher, … Continue reading “At” The Table or “On” the Table – The Need for Teacher Input in Educational “Reform”
If You Are A Parent or Advocate of a Special Needs Child in NC Public Schools Then Read This
"The state’s funding formula does not adjust for the severity of a disability; there is a flat rate provided for each child, in spite of the fact that the cost per year for a student with profound needs can skyrocket to as high as $100,000 or more." The above excerpt is from Lindsay Wagner's report … Continue reading If You Are A Parent or Advocate of a Special Needs Child in NC Public Schools Then Read This
Raleigh’s Use of “Revisionist History” Concerning Public Education
I could not tell you how many times a student has asked me what my SAT score was - probably to compare his/her score against mine. (To tell you the truth, I do not remember as most colleges when I applied for school took the best combined score). The problem is that there really is … Continue reading Raleigh’s Use of “Revisionist History” Concerning Public Education
The North Carolina General Assembly’s Fear of the Veteran Public School Teacher
Veteran teachers openly discuss, study, and collaborate. And they fight for public schools. The powers that rule in the North Carolina General Assembly have been waging a war against public schools in our state for the last six years. Under the guise of “reform,” GOP conservatives driven by ALEC-crafted policies have successfully enabled and instituted … Continue reading The North Carolina General Assembly’s Fear of the Veteran Public School Teacher
Again, Poetry Matters
This past week Stephen Colbert welcomed Helen Mirren to The Late Show. A wonderfully talented stage actress whose resume includes the Royal Shakespeare Theatre continues to defy stereotypes of age. Colbert is a huge fan of poetry. He has related a story of meeting his wife in relation to a conveersation involving one of his … Continue reading Again, Poetry Matters
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