Last year was tough. Mostly virtual. Felt like 36 weeks of intense professional development. With protocols and mandatory asynchronous time on classes, I maybe had about 40% of the "face" time that I would usually get in a typical school year. And the state still "tested" students. But this year is tougher, and it is … Continue reading This Year Is Much Tougher Than Last Year For Teachers – And NOT Because Of The Students

I do not know of a single instance in public education where merit pay actually has increased student achievement. Yet, many lawmakers not only advocate merit pay, but also differential pay based on the willingness “to take on additional tasks” like clubs, coaching, mentor, and chairing of departments. First, look at merit pay as a … Continue reading Dear Supt. Truitt, Merit Pay & Differential Pay Are Bad Ideas for North Carolina Public Education

Last April, State Superintendent Catherine Truitt introduced her vision for DPI and public education in North Carolina. Yesterday, she made another presentation about "Operation Polaris" to the state board. It is called “Operation Polaris” in reference to the North Star. It alludes to the constant presence, the ever shining beacon, and the foundational staple of … Continue reading About Supt. Truitt’s “Operation Polaris” – It Must Include Some Things To Even Begin To Work

There is a reason that we read serious works of literature. And others can say why much better than I can. “I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.”― Ralph Waldo Emerson“We read to know we are not alone.”— William Nicholson (often attributed … Continue reading A Reading Assignment For Our NC Legislators — And There Will Be A Test

Senator Phil Berger’s “Press Shop” again been been parading a new post that grossly misrepresents NC’s ranking in the Southeast and the nation as far as its treatment of public education, specifically the money spent on K-12 schools, money per pupil spent, and average salaries. He's making reference to this July 2020 publication from the NEA which is … Continue reading #2 In The Southeast? 39% Increase? Looking Again At Sen. Berger’s Misleading Press Shop

North Carolina has the dogwood as the state flower, the cardinal as the state bird, the plott hound as the state dog, the Fraser Fir as the state Christmas tree, and the emerald as the state gem. We also have the channel bass (red drum) as the state fish. But one of those need to change. … Continue reading North Carolina’s New State Fish – The Red Herring

Imagine being a teacher who gave a required assignment to a student for a class that had to be taken in order to graduate based on criteria set by governing bodies. The student specifically chose to be in your section and even lobbied parents and administration to be in that class promising to do everything … Continue reading The Required Assignment (LEANDRO) The NCGA Refuses To Complete

On September 25th, the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston-Salem will be hosting its annual Buddy Walk. If you can't walk with us at West Forsyth High School, then walk where you can. Still helps people! For those who are not familiar with the Buddy Walk, here is the blurb from the DSAGWS.org website: The Buddy Walk® … Continue reading Malcolm’s Minions – A Chance to be Ultra-Cool And Help Some People

Remember that this state has not had a new budget in three years, has one of the nation’s most miserly unemployment benefit systems, never expanded Medicaid benefits financed by the federal government, still maintains the lowest minimum wage legally possible, and is one of a few states to outlaw collective bargaining rights for public employees. … Continue reading This $500 Raise Would Cost You So Much More If You Took It

Rob Schofield posted a piece in April of 2019 on NC Policy Watch that reported on an effort for all of North Carolina’s public employees to have collective bargaining rights. More than 600,000 public employees throughout North Carolina would obtain a right that’s been denied to them for 60 years under a pair companion bills introduced in the … Continue reading NC Teachers (And All Public Employees) Should Have Collective Bargaining Rights