Today, I got an email from my daughter’s band teacher. This year, he said, sheet music for the class will not be provided. Instead, parents have been instructed to print out the music themselves, then collate into a sheet protectors and a binder (parent-provided, of course) for our children to use at school. This is …
Morning, all. Here’s a (slightly belated) look at what’s been happening around the web in education: First, if you read only one thing this week, make it this article from WUNC: http://www.wunc.org/post/what-public-school-finance-officers-want-you-know-about-school-funding. In it, school finance officers describe one of the roots of tension between the school districts and the NCGA, and I suspect, the fundamental …
School board member is perhaps the hardest job I can think of. It can be thankless, and parents like me can be relentless. Yet, school board members keep us informed, and even can help us navigate the minefield that is public education policy in North Carolina. Most importantly they set policy on the ground level. …
When I first heard about Class Size Chaos, I went and read the law mandating new, small class sizes. My heart leapt when I read its enforcement provision — in any school system that failed to comply with the new law, the superintendent would lose his or her salary. “Bingo!” I thought. Here was the …
Hey all, Some of the stuff I’ve been reading this week: One of our candidates for Wake County School Board wrote this, on wanting the best for our kids: https://www.facebook.com/notes/heather-scott-for-wake-county-board-of-education-district-1/i-want-them-to-have-the-best-opportunity/2577770145782128/ An interesting piece about some of the false assumptions underlying the push to privatize schools: http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/education_law/2018/08/false-assumptions-about-private-schools-are-driving-public-school-funding-into-a-ditch.html From an NC teacher, some information about the NCGA’s disastrous principal …
As Save Our Schools NC members begin to put together the voter guide there are some who will stand out above others. There are those in the General Assembly that worked tirelessly to fight for public education, but there are those who actively hindered public education legislation. Phil Berger continually kept public education bills stuck …
I don’t know about you all, but it feels like there are way too many things competing for my attention right now. There’s back-to-school, and PTA is ramping up, and activities to lead and/or haul children to. And, as one helpful soul on Twitter points out every morning, Election Day is fast approaching. With so …
Hi all, and welcome to another education roundup. Here is some of the writing we’ve found interesting this week: The N&O weighed in on the NC Tax Cap amendment and what it would do to schools: https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/article216408895.html From the Washington Post, a good look at the legacy of Arne Duncan, President Obama’s Secretary of Education: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/08/15/arne-duncan-talks-a-good-game/?utm_term=.fbffc103eee4 …
When the NC General Assembly leaves gaps in funding it’s sometimes the PTA that picks up the slack. PTAs across the state fund iPads, smart TVs, and library books. We have carnivals, bake sales, restaurant take overs, and fun runs. We get corporations and businesses to sponsor playground upgrades in exchange for advertising. I call …
I’m knee-deep in drafting the SoSNC voter guide this week, and one thing that we’re be looking for is legislators who have made statements in support of public education. But of course, all statements aren’t created equal, and today I’d like to talk about one education-related boast in particular that sticks in my craw (if …