If Mark Johnson is willing to run for doughnuts, is he willing to walk with teachers on May 16 in a day for advocacy in support of public schools? Unfortunately, most teachers in this state already know the answer to that question. Of all the issues that have surrounded NC and the General Assembly's assault … Continue reading The Office of The NC State Superintendent – Where Doughnuts Are More Important Than Public Schools
Dear North Carolina Lawmaker, Exactly What is the Job Description of a Public School Teacher?
Almost four years ago, Sen, David Curtis delivered a rather uneducated response to a letter from a young teacher in which he outlined a close-minded viewpoint of the teaching profession (http://wunc.org/post/teacher-email-legislators-draws-harsh-reply#stream/0). Needless to say, it garnered quite a response from teachers around the state. Other public education critics have gone out of their way to … Continue reading Dear North Carolina Lawmaker, Exactly What is the Job Description of a Public School Teacher?
The Greatest Compliment Ever Paid To A Teacher
When a former student sends you a kind email years after he has left your classroom and graduated, When you receive wedding invitations from former students, When you are sent a Christmas Card from the family of a former student, When a former student walks into your classroom just to watch how you still teach, … Continue reading The Greatest Compliment Ever Paid To A Teacher
You Know You Are a Middle-Aged Public School Teacher When…
You Know You Are a Middle-Aged Public School Teacher When... You pull a hamstring going up the stairs right after a fire drill. You make a reference to a movie that a student claims that his parent may have seen. You fondly look back at the time when there were no cellphones in the classroom. … Continue reading You Know You Are a Middle-Aged Public School Teacher When…
West Jones Street, The NC General Assembly, and The Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg
“But above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic — their irises are one-yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a … Continue reading West Jones Street, The NC General Assembly, and The Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg
Writing in Stream of Unconsciousness – John Hood’s Latest Op-Ed on Public Education in NC
Most times, I look forward to reading John Hood’s perspectives on education in North Carolina. They reaffirm my stances on what is happening in the Old North State and its public schools. Needless to say, I usually disagree with his stances. I also wonder sometimes at his lack of clarity. Yet there are instances where … Continue reading Writing in Stream of Unconsciousness – John Hood’s Latest Op-Ed on Public Education in NC
Rep. Larry Pittman, Jesus Would Never Have Sent That Email Concerning Arming Teachers
While evoking the paraphrased words of the NRA’s Wayne LaPierre, Rep. Larry Pittman once again is calling for more guns to be in our schools. And this call had some extra extremism added to them. From an email he sent to all NCGA members on April 16th: “We need to allow teachers, other school personnel … Continue reading Rep. Larry Pittman, Jesus Would Never Have Sent That Email Concerning Arming Teachers
Why the Hell Is Mark Johnson Hiring More Public Relations Personnel?
Over fifteen months into office, State Superintendent Mark Johnson is hiring more people loyal to him while in the midst of a lawsuit over the constitutionality of a power grab that happened the month before he took an oath to advocate for public schools. North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson has created two … Continue reading Why the Hell Is Mark Johnson Hiring More Public Relations Personnel?
Our Public Schools Are Better Than Lt. Gov. Dan Forest Wants You to Believe
“If we knew the solution to this problem, we wouldn’t have 505 low performing schools.” - Lt. Gov. Dan Forest on voting for the unproven ISD district to be taken over by an out of state entity whose founder donated to his campaign. Lt. Gov. Forest, our public schools are better than you portray … Continue reading Our Public Schools Are Better Than Lt. Gov. Dan Forest Wants You to Believe
So Much Changes – Hard to Compare Schools Today to the Past
My grandmother graduated from high school right after the end of WWII. My mother graduated from high school in the late 1960’s. I graduated from high school in the 1980’s, and thirty years later I am watching another class graduate from the public high where I am about finish my 20th year of teaching. And … Continue reading So Much Changes – Hard to Compare Schools Today to the Past
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