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
Class Size
An Open Letter From a Veteran North Carolina Teacher to Young Teachers – You Are Vital
Dear Fellow Educator, I first want to tell you that I admire what you have chosen to do as a career. Teaching in today’s public schools is not easy. I know as I am in my 20th year of teaching. I still love my job. I still love being with the students. Outside of my … Continue reading An Open Letter From a Veteran North Carolina Teacher to Young Teachers – You Are Vital
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“Snowbirding” on the Court of the Class Size Fix
When a player on a basketball court refuses to go and play defense and only wants easy passes for wide open shots to pad their stat sheet, that player is "snowbirding." Rather than doing the heavy lifting, playing hard to make a stop and secure the rebound, this player raises his hands, yells for the … Continue reading “Snowbirding” on the Court of the Class Size Fix
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“Less Than Stellar” – The State Superintendent Is Right
“Less than stellar.” That’s what State Superintendent Mark Johnson said about his recent comments concerning teacher pay in rural counties. It’s one of the first times that he has been correct in gauging his performance as the top public school official in the state. But in truth, Johnson’s entire tenure as state superintendent has been … Continue reading “Less Than Stellar” – The State Superintendent Is Right
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The Silence of the NC State Superintendent on Public Schools And a Fear of Tough Questions
I don’t get to choose my students. Whoever walks into my classroom and is on the roll I receive from the school system will get the best instruction that I can offer. And in those classes, I do not write a script. Students are always allowed to ask questions, especially tough ones. If I know … Continue reading The Silence of the NC State Superintendent on Public Schools And a Fear of Tough Questions
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Open Letter to Rep. Chuck McGrady About His Empty Class Size Mandate Explanation
Dear Rep. Chuck McGrady, I read with great interest your recent missive “Class Size: A Simple Explanation of the Issue.” While I appreciate your wanting to explain the issue in what you may think is a truthful manner, I must admit that it just rehashes the same argument made by many others in the General … Continue reading Open Letter to Rep. Chuck McGrady About His Empty Class Size Mandate Explanation
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10 Minutes of “Pathologia Boven Excrementum” – Sen. Barefoot on Class Size Chaos
Watching a politician try to explain with circular reasoning, strawmen, and other logical fallacies the reason why he should not be faulted for something he intentionally did can be entertaining. Or painful. Or in this case, maddening. This past weekend, Education Matters aired an episode on the class size mandate. The show is produced by … Continue reading 10 Minutes of “Pathologia Boven Excrementum” – Sen. Barefoot on Class Size Chaos
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Sen. Bill Rabon’s Commitment to Not Fully Fund NC’s Public Schools
From Rep. Craig Horn on January 4, 2018: “The gap is closing. There are folks that are working on a reasonable solution with the session coming as quickly as it is next week” ((http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2018/01/04/chairman-house-education-committee-solution-class-size-crisis-imminent/). From Sen. John Alexander on January 17, 2018: “We are still trying to gather information from all 100 counties of the … Continue reading Sen. Bill Rabon’s Commitment to Not Fully Fund NC’s Public Schools
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Tommy Boy and the Class Size Crisis – Concerning Sen. John Alexander’s Empty Words
I miss Chris Farley. His stint on Saturday Night Live is still memorable. There’s that opening number with Patrick Swayze where he and Swayze were competing for a spot in the Chippendale dancers. Then there’s Matt Foley, a motivational speaker who lives “in a van down by the river.” But my favorite Chris Farley performance … Continue reading Tommy Boy and the Class Size Crisis – Concerning Sen. John Alexander’s Empty Words
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Hallelujah, and Pass the Lard! – Sen Joyce Krawiec’s Uneducated Assertion on the Class Size Mandate
"If brains were lard, you couldn't grease a small skillet." - Sen. Joyce Krawiec, Jan. 20, 2017 in reference to the people participating in the Women's March. Not Sen. Krawiec's best moment. One would think that since the senator equated lard with brains and the fact that much lard was actually sent to her directly … Continue reading Hallelujah, and Pass the Lard! – Sen Joyce Krawiec’s Uneducated Assertion on the Class Size Mandate
caffeinated rage 