“CheeBerger, CheeBerger!” -Sen. Phil Berger and the Art of Walking Contradictorily

Sen. Phil Berger’s words that introduced BEST NC’s fourth annual legislative meeting which featured Michelle Rhee is yet another indication that the powers that be in North Carolina are still addicted to reform ideas that not only further harm public schools but erroneously claim that schools should run more like businesses. But at least he … Continue reading “CheeBerger, CheeBerger!” -Sen. Phil Berger and the Art of Walking Contradictorily

Open Letter to Dave Machado, Charter School Chief for the State of North Carolina Concerning His Words About the Annual Charter Schools Report

Dear Mr. Machado, As the Director for the State Office of Charter Schools in North Carolina, your words concerning the annual charter schools report just recently made to the State Board of Education prove not just interesting, but rather selective and uninformed and display an attitude to make sure that charter schools in North Carolina … Continue reading Open Letter to Dave Machado, Charter School Chief for the State of North Carolina Concerning His Words About the Annual Charter Schools Report

Vouchers, Charters, and Choice! Oh, My! – Dorothy, You’re Not in Public School Anymore

"Lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh, my!" – Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. "Vouchers, Charters, and Choice! Oh, my!" – Me As the North Carolina General Assembly is about to convene for the long session here in the new year, it bears repeating that public education will again be at the … Continue reading Vouchers, Charters, and Choice! Oh, My! – Dorothy, You’re Not in Public School Anymore

Mark Twain and the Fight Against “Eduperialism” in North Carolina

“We believe that out of the public school grows the greatness of a nation.” – Mark Twain The above quote by Mark Twain was delivered on November 23, 1900 in a speech to the Public Education Association at a meeting of the Berkley Lyceum, New York. It is sometimes called his “Boxer Speech” as Twain … Continue reading Mark Twain and the Fight Against “Eduperialism” in North Carolina

North Carolina – FULLY FUND YOUR SCHOOLS!

This article should be talked about more than it has been especially in North Carolina whose state government has been entertaining ideas of revamping how it allocates its k-12 funding per LEA. It appeared in the New York Times’ “The Upshot” on Dec. 12th and is entitled “It Turns Out Spending More Probably Does Improve … Continue reading North Carolina – FULLY FUND YOUR SCHOOLS!

Welcome to Betsy DeVos’s BLACKWATER CHARTER SCHOOL, Home of the “Mercenaries” and Pioneers of the Pyramid Scheme Curriculum

Welcome to Blackwater Charter School, Home of the Mercenaries and pioneers of the “Pyramid Scheme Curriculum.” Considering that the new Secretary of Education appointee is married to the heir of the Amway fortune, a pyramid selling scheme, and sister of the founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince , the idea of such a school is not … Continue reading Welcome to Betsy DeVos’s BLACKWATER CHARTER SCHOOL, Home of the “Mercenaries” and Pioneers of the Pyramid Scheme Curriculum

Excuse Me, Elected Officials? It’s Okay to Listen to Others

It’s OK to listen to others. On November 8th North Carolina elected/reelected to serve in the NCGA, and while I may bemoan the fact that there still exists a supermajority in the General Assembly for the GOP, I hope that the actions seen in other states’ races and ballot items might allow for some perspective … Continue reading Excuse Me, Elected Officials? It’s Okay to Listen to Others

Open Letter to the Registered Voter Who Believes in Public Schools

Note: I have combed through all of my op-eds, posts, rants, and lists and compiled from them what follows as a last posting to help get people to vote next Tuesday for pro-public education candidates. The current General Assembly and governor are very scared of public school teachers and those who support them. Without their … Continue reading Open Letter to the Registered Voter Who Believes in Public Schools

Willful Ignorance Is Not Bliss, But Rather Mean – McCrory’s Orwellian Contradiction

News that Gov. McCrory’s office asked public school leaders this past summer to find ways to cut their budget by as much as 2 percent should come as a surprise in an election year where he has touted his commitment to public education and a creation of a surplus in our current budget. But it … Continue reading Willful Ignorance Is Not Bliss, But Rather Mean – McCrory’s Orwellian Contradiction

North Carolina’s Man-Made Educational Climate Change

  NASA’s Global Climate Change website is dedicated to educating people about human influence on the environment. Under the “Scientific Consensus” tab it states, “Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals1 show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities” … Continue reading North Carolina’s Man-Made Educational Climate Change