I am over three times as old as the average age of my students this year. I remember rotary phones, VHS, Walkmans, leaded gasoline, and the original release of the first Star Wars movie. I remember the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Soviet Union, Columbine, and … Continue reading This Teacher Has So Much Faith In The Class Of 2024

Vacancies for jobs only tell part of the story. The calculated narratives about how badly our public schools have been performing for the last ten years are manufactured on half-truths and bolstered by a glaring lack of proper funding. When a state is sitting on billions of dollars in surplus, throws hundreds of millions more … Continue reading Dear North Carolina, You Are Losing Your Teachers

This happened in New Hanover County's recent school board meeting: "According to the new policy, the only things that can be displayed are signs or flags representing the United States, the State of North Carolina, New Hanover County, the school’s name or mascot, post-secondary institutions, school-sponsored events, sponsorships and approved curriculum. Some teachers have criticized … Continue reading New Hanover County BOE Is Throwing It Back To 1984

When August approaches, teachers begin a new school year and their “step” will increase by another year. That “step” is the number of years served in schools. Not long ago, teachers who served the state for at least ten years would receive what was called “longevity” pay as part of their commitment to public schools. … Continue reading This Teacher Has Lost Over $15K In Longevity Pay. What About You, Veteran Teacher?

One of the better political cartoons in the past few years that still pertains to today’s political environment came from Dennis Draughon at Capitol Broadcasting in the fall of 2019 around Thanksgiving. It represented a Thanksgiving dinner where teachers and schools are sitting at a smaller table waiting to see what they will be given … Continue reading Before Someone Claims That “We Will Have To Raise Taxes On People To Fully Fund NC Schools,” Tell Him To Consider These Measures First

A little over ten years ago teachers in North Carolina could receive an increase in salary and a higher certificate if they held graduate degrees. That does not happen any longer. A little over ten years ago teachers in North Carolina could receive due-process rights after a few years of teaching to allow themselves a … Continue reading The Endgame: To Make Public School Teaching A Short-Term Contract Job In North Carolina

Imagine the state of public education in North Carolina right before the Great Recession. The “sides” are sound and strong. There is support from the state government on all sides. Look at those four sides as four different categories that need to be fairly monitored closely and supported adequately to keep public education going strong. … Continue reading They Are Tearing Down The Once Strong Walls Of NC Public Education

Take a look at the states that surround North Carolina. While NC shares a border with 4 other states, it does not take long to travel to some others. Some lawmakers like to construct "favorable" comparisons to other southeastern states to make the argument that we as a state are fairly treating our teachers. Hogwash. … Continue reading 9 Of 10 Southeastern States Give Graduate Degree Pay To Teachers. Guess Who Does Not.

If you have driven on North Carolina's interstates in the last couple of weeks, you may have seen one of these billboards: The Winston-Salem Journal did a story on the person who started this campaign and the website PayNCTeachers.com. It's nice to see a billboard sponsored by a successful businessman who sees the value of … Continue reading Have You Seen Those Billboards? Visit PayNCTeachers.com

“You expect at least eight weeks paid vacation per year because that is what the taxpayers of North Carolina gave you back when you were a poorly compensated teacher.” – Sen, David Curtis in May of 2014 in response to a teacher letter. “I suspect that most people, if told they could work 10 months a year … Continue reading Summers Are Not Paid Vacations For Teachers – Far From It