Back in July, I posted about the upcoming football season at West and the involvement of the student section. They have been better than advertised. Ten great turnouts from the students. Ten victories. Wanted to share the original post again. So here it is. Last night I caught a tweet from my school’s spirit … Continue reading Friday Night Lights – The Power of the Student Section
About That John Hood Op-ed on Teacher Pay and “Reasoned Debate”
As the president of the John William Pope foundation and chairman of the board at the libertarian think tank John Locke Foundation, John Hood serves more as a mouthpiece that represents a political ideology which obeys the policies of the American Legislative Exchange Council more than it considers the average North Carolinian. On issues such … Continue reading About That John Hood Op-ed on Teacher Pay and “Reasoned Debate”
This Actually Happened – Nov. 1, 2017
From the category of "Differences Between Public Schools and Charter Schools." This is from today's Charlotte Observer article entitled "Want public emails from this NC charter school? Write a check for $7,500 up front." A Charlotte-area charter school has responded to a public records request by demanding an up-front payment of $7,500, saying that’s the … Continue reading This Actually Happened – Nov. 1, 2017
EVAAS, The Iceberg Effect, and Stranger Things – The Secretive Way NC Measures Teachers and Schools
In October 2017, the venerable James Ford of the Public School Forum delivered the keynote address at the North Carolina English Teacher’s Association. It was more than exceptional as Ford highlighted that what hurts our schools most are external factors that are not being dealt with such as systemic poverty. Part of his presentation included … Continue reading EVAAS, The Iceberg Effect, and Stranger Things – The Secretive Way NC Measures Teachers and Schools
Of Course I Didn’t Forget – Items of the Week for Oct. 22nd – Oct. 28th
Mueller and Indictments The Washington Free Beacon Obama and Jury Duty Opioid Epidemic JFK Files 34 percent WikiLeaks Sen. Jeff Flake – Decency
WFXC – Two Titan Teams You Should Be Following
This past weekend West Forsyth's Girls Cross-Country team won the 4A Midwest Regional meet after capturing the conference title the weekend before. The Boys Cross-Country Team placed second in the regional after a second place finish in the conference. If you are unfamiliar with all of the ins-and-outs of the sport, just remember that it … Continue reading WFXC – Two Titan Teams You Should Be Following
Our Schools Are Not Failing; Our Policy Makers Are – On Raleigh’s New 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 – On Raleigh’s New Way of Measuring Schools
The Misguided Narrative Over Differentiated Teacher Pay In North Carolina
“This idea that the school is a harmonious community and that teachers aren’t competing with one another is patently false. Teachers are constantly competing with one another. They want to outdo each other. They want to be a better teacher than the teacher down the hall. That doesn’t mean they’re not going to collaborate.” – … Continue reading The Misguided Narrative Over Differentiated Teacher Pay In North Carolina
“Have You No Sense of Decency, Sir?” – Sen. Flake Invokes “Exhuming McCarthy”
There is no doubt that President Trump’s campaign rhetoric and initial actions in office had a most direct influence on the 2016 Dictionary.com “Word of the Year”: xenophobia. Xenophobia – noun: Fear or hatred of foreigners. In a nation that was built on immigration it seems interesting that 2016’s word of the year would be … Continue reading “Have You No Sense of Decency, Sir?” – Sen. Flake Invokes “Exhuming McCarthy”
Raleigh, Buy Us Some Damn Textbooks!
Raleigh, buy us some damn textbooks. With real pages and hard covers. Yes, technology in the classroom can be a great avenue for learning. However, technology for technology’s sake can block many roads for students. And if technology is to be looked at as a simple substitution for other resources to save time and money, … Continue reading Raleigh, Buy Us Some Damn Textbooks!
caffeinated rage 