In the past few weeks, much attention has been focused in North Carolina around HB514, the municipalities charter school bill championed by Bill Brawley which will allow four predominantly white, affluent cities within Mecklenburg County to finance their own charter schools and give preference to their own students. Those students would attend "local" charter schools … Continue reading About That NBC News Report On Charter Schools and Segregation
North Carolina Faith Leaders for Public Education – Using the Good Book To Support Public Schools
When Duke University's Children’s Law Center’s released its March 2017 report called SCHOOL VOUCHERS IN NORTH CAROLINA : THE FIRST THREE YEARS one of the most glaring aspects of the program was how many vouchers were being used at religiously affiliated schools. Some of the observations of the study included: Approximately 93% of the vouchers have been … Continue reading North Carolina Faith Leaders for Public Education – Using the Good Book To Support Public Schools
The NC General Assembly’s Ploy to Pass the Burden of Funding State School Mandates to Local Systems
Remember when Sen. Chad Barefoot said this in February of 2017 concerning House Bill 13? “For years, the General Assembly has been sending tens of millions of dollars to districts for new classroom teachers for the purpose of lowering classroom sizes,” he said. “The question we keep asking over and over again is, ‘What did … Continue reading The NC General Assembly’s Ploy to Pass the Burden of Funding State School Mandates to Local Systems
Combating The North Carolina General Assembly’s Fear Of A Well-Educated General Public – Voting in November Helps
(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 North Carolina General Assembly’s Fear Of A Well-Educated General Public – Voting in November Helps
Don’t Fall For The “Status Quo” Fallacy Concerning Public Education
The term “status quo” has become something of a nebulous term for public education and has evolved into a powerful logical fallacy used by reformers and politicians. Consider the following: “The heat is already intense not just because it involves the future of our children but also because a lot of money is at stake. … Continue reading Don’t Fall For The “Status Quo” Fallacy Concerning Public Education
Our Schools Are Not Failing; Our Policy Makers Are : Raleigh’s Amorphous Way of Measuring Schools
When you are the North Carolina General Assembly and you want to stop a string of court decisions that have declared your unconstitutional acts “unconstitutional,” then you change the judicial system in your favor. Or at least try. When you are the North Carolina General Assembly and you want to remain in power on West … Continue reading Our Schools Are Not Failing; Our Policy Makers Are : Raleigh’s Amorphous Way of Measuring Schools
Too Much Damn Privatization of Public Schools – Using Public Money to Make a Public Good Profitable for a Few
Remember Michelle Rhee’s visit to North Carolina last year for a “closed-door” meeting (February 7th ,2017) with lawmakers brokered by an educational lobbying body of business leaders called BEST NC (coupled with the NC GOP’s invitation to Betsy DeVos who had just been confirmed as Trump’s secretary of education)? It was another ominous omen of what has been … Continue reading Too Much Damn Privatization of Public Schools – Using Public Money to Make a Public Good Profitable for a Few
Appearance Vs. Reality – Mark Johnson’s Universal Theme
For a public official, how one is perceived by the public for whom he serves is of vital importance. Carefully crafted press releases and talking points are crucial in at least giving the appearance of integrity. For instance, take this tweet about the Teacher Working Conditions Survey from June 11th from Mark Johnson: If it … Continue reading Appearance Vs. Reality – Mark Johnson’s Universal Theme
Imagine Them Apples, North Carolina – Why Teaching Is Like Farming
In 2015, Business Insider published a report from the Brookings Institute highlighting the 15 cities where poverty is growing fastest in the nation. Greensboro-High Point tied for 10th, Winston-Salem tied for 8th, and Raleigh tied for 3rd…with Charlotte. In 2016, the Washington Post published a study by the Southern Education Foundation that found an incredibly high number of students … Continue reading Imagine Them Apples, North Carolina – Why Teaching Is Like Farming
Senate Bill 75, Also Known as TABOR – A Tourniquet Around the Bloodlines of Our Republic and it Could Cripple Our Public Schools
In the current session, it's called Senate Bill 75. To many around the country, it's called TABOR. The TAxpayer Bill of Rights. Makes it sound like it truly benefits those in our state. It doesn’t. It’s just another catchy acronym that acts like a Trojan horse for something more destructive. Acronyms are easy to shape and easier … Continue reading Senate Bill 75, Also Known as TABOR – A Tourniquet Around the Bloodlines of Our Republic and it Could Cripple Our Public Schools
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