Sen. Phil Berger is playing politician again. In this election year, he and his GOP comrades have ramped up their “strong talk” on their commitment to adequately fund public schools and pay teachers a comparable salary on the national level. And part of his talk is defending himself against the vicious attacks from those who … Continue reading The Lie of #NCSuccessStory – Sen. Phil Berger’s Latest BS Propaganda

Work or volunteer in a public school for a period of time and you will see there is so much that needs to be maintained and financed in order to just give our kids a place where they can learn. Did you ever think of: upkeep of athletic facilities grounds maintenance fuel bus maintenance and … Continue reading Fully Funding Schools Means So Much More Than Salaries. It Means…

Tomorrow begins my 14th year at my current school, the Home of the Titans. Tomorrow begins my 21st year of teaching – three schools so far. Hope I stay at my current school the rest of my career. Tomorrow is my 4,321st day in high school as a student and teacher (non-workdays) That does not … Continue reading First Day Back to School, 2018 – Day 4,321– An Open Letter to Teachers

I did not always agree with Sen. John McCain’s assessments of how our country should act in many situations, but I have never doubted that he  had only the best in mind when it does come to our country. Political affiliations aside, he is (yes, still present tense) a true patriot. I do not believe … Continue reading Godspeed, Sen. John McCain

"Like a dull knife Just isn't cutting Just talking loud Then saying nothing.  - "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" - James Brown, 1970 True to form, teachers received a "back to school" pep talk from Mark Johnson that leans more heavily on air than on substance. The text of it is below. Educators: Welcome back … Continue reading “Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing” -A James Brown Dedication to the State Superintendent’s Latest Message

From the New York Times on August 22nd: "The Education Department is considering whether to allow states to use federal funding to purchase guns for educators, according to multiple people with knowledge of the plan. Such a move appears to be unprecedented, reversing a longstanding position taken by the federal government that it should not … Continue reading Still Not For Arming Teachers And Never Was For Betsy DeVos

I miss Chris Farley. His stint on Saturday Night Live is still memorable. There’s that opening number with Patrick Swayze where he and Swayze were competing for a spot in the Chippendale dancers. Then there’s "Matt Foley", a motivational speaker who lives “in a van down by the river.” But my favorite Chris Farley performance … Continue reading How Chris Farley and Tommy Boy Accurately Explain Educational Policy in North Carolina

Of all the primary political signs that were spread throughout the city where I reside, at least three of four deal with local school board elections. This is not an anomaly. I cannot remember a time in an election cycle in which the majority of roadside political signs of local and state office did not … Continue reading Are They Willing to Confront State Lawmakers on Behalf of Public Schools? Why Local School Board Elections Are So Important in 2018 for Every NC School System

With a new school year starting in North Carolina, it usually is customary for leaders of school systems and individual schools to offer words of encouragement and support to teachers to help inaugurate classes. State Superintendent Mark Johnson offered a “Welcome Back to School” video to teachers last August, and while it seems to say … Continue reading Ever More Complicit in NC’s Testing Culture – Our State Superintendent’s Empty Promise to Curb “Over-testing”

I believe every policy maker who touts "personalized learning" and screams  "differentiated instruction" in our schools to reach every child maximally should sit in on some IEP meetings - the tough ones where parents and schools struggle to find what is not only appropriate for the student, but how those needs will be met. And … Continue reading Dear Supt. Mark Johnson and NCGA, You Are Invited to My Son’s Next IEP Meeting