When you become a public school teacher there are sets of rules and dictates you must abide by. There are laws. There are procedures. There are decrees. There are edicts. There is protocol. And there are expectations. When parents, students, voters, taxpayers, government officials, post-secondary institutions, and employers all have some sort of stake in … Continue reading Vote to Help Keep Great Teachers In NC’s Classrooms

The following is from an essay that Mark Johnson wrote in September of 2016 toward the end of the political campaign that brought about his election and the subsequent takeover of DPI. It is from "Our American dream" published in EdNC.org. "We face this challenge here in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Despite the hard work of … Continue reading The Innovative School District Is Not a Cure, But A Symptom of NC’s Attempt to Privatize Public Education

Yes, public education is political. But it does not have to be partisan. Yet, in the last few years, more and more local school board elections are becoming partisan races steering school systems by a GPS system based on political dogma and controlled in Raleigh rather than what is best for the local school system. … Continue reading Local School Boards Should Not Be Partisan

This past week I submitted my first college recommendations this school year for students attempting to gain early admission to colleges they consider their “first choice.” And many post-secondary institutions really comb those recommendations to glean a perspective on students that just cannot be ascertained from a transcript or score report. These colleges are trying … Continue reading Why I Write College Recommendation Letters

This past summer, three members of the State Board of Education resigned their posts for one reason: to help public schools. From a post this past August on this blog: When Bill Cobey announced his resignation from the State Board of Education in July effective in September, it seemed coincidental. But maybe not. Since then … Continue reading Best News for NC Public Education Advocates to Come in a Long While – The New Appointees to the State Board of Education

With the HOPE Scholarship, many students in the state of Georgia who were not able to attend a four-year post-secondary school immediately had an avenue to pursue higher education. When it was initially incorporated in 1993, any student in a Georgia public high school who graduated with at least a “B” average could go to … Continue reading About That Grade Inflation in High Schools Study And Our Policy Makers’ Addiction to Manufactured Outcomes

This male teacher is a feminist, a rather unabashed one at that. Now, before you think that this is an unmanly stance to adopt, I want to make sure you understand what I mean by “feminist.” I mean that I believe that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities in our world. In … Continue reading This Male English Teacher is a Feminist

The North Carolina General Assembly met for a special session today to address what could immediately be done for the most affected counties in NC from the damage of Hurricane Florence. In actuality, that would qualify about half of the state. The most damaged counties asked that their school systems be allowed to have flexibility … Continue reading Give Those Schools Affected by Hurricane Florence Calendar Flexibility

In an educational climate (here in North Carolina and elsewhere) that seems to be changing as quickly as the Earth’s temperature, it might be time to suggest helping traditional schools gain some more resources and support from the North Carolina General Assembly. In the past six years, North Carolina has successfully taken a public education … Continue reading An Application for “The Traditional Public School” Charter School