Our #Red4EdNC blog features the voices of public school educators and advocates from around the state. If you have something to say about what’s happening in NC on the topic of public schools, please contact us at [email protected]. We want as many voices as possible to lift up all of the good things happening in public schools, highlight things that need to change, and advocate for ways to make things better!
Neglected schools
By Richard M. Moore, AG teacher at Jones Elementary School, Greensboro
As a teacher who is in his 45th year of teaching in Greensboro, I feel compelled to comment on this battle between our legislators, public and private school funding and the conditions of our schools.
In 2016 and 2017 I taught in a classroom with no air conditioning or heat. This went on for two years. They finally got it fixed.
Now, just in the past year, our school has had several classrooms with no working heat or air conditioning, including the media center. I have to wonder what would happen in Raleigh if our inspired legislators had to work without heat or air conditioning even for one day.
I also wonder how the General Assembly can justify offering millions of dollars to private schools for vouchers. There’s no accountability, or limitations on income to receive the vouchers.
And let’s not forget about teacher pay. I find it odd that teachers who drive across state lines in South Carolina and Virginia can make about $7,000 more per year.
To quote the Buffalo Springfield, “There’s something happening here/ But what it is ain’t exactly clear.”
The views and opinions expressed in guest blog posts are those of the guest bloggers and do not necessarily represent the views of Public Schools First NC, its affiliates, or staff.
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Voters Across the Political Spectrum Gave Public Education Important Wins in the 2024 Election
People around the country split their tickets to support public schools and vote for Trump.
By Jeff Bryant November 18, 2024 12:36 PM
In a general election that was by-and-large disastrous for the Democratic Party, voters across the political spectrum united to oppose
NATASHA MARCUS: School voucher expansion just 'gravy on a fully-loaded plate of choices'
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024— This is not a bill about helping low income families or even about school choice. This is about expanding the program to the wealthiest families. That’s who this bill’s helping at the expense of all the other things that we need to be spending money on.
Small change, big impact: The sales tax will improve our schools
By Leah Carper, 2022 North Carolina Teacher of the Year and current director of Stakeholder Engagement for Guilford County Schools
October 25, 2024
As a ninth grader on reduced-cost meals, I entered the school cafeteria each day with just 40 cents clutched tightly in my hand.
Strong K-12 public education is vital for business
By Tom Oxholm, former WCPSS board member and executive vice president of Wake Stone Corporation
October 4, 2024
Every business leader knows that our companies are only as good as our people.
Trump’s bid to eliminate Department of Education would destroy schools
By Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education
September 23, 2024
Since President Jimmy Carter created the modern Department of Education in 1979, it has faced continuous calls for its abolition. This threat has persisted through Republican administrations, from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump.
Why I Oppose Vouchers
By Ann McLean, retired North Carolina teacher and principal
September 21, 2024
My opposition to the school voucher program is two-fold: it hurts students particularly, and it hurts traditional public schools (TPS) in general. In the very rural districts in which I spent the majority of my career, vouchers are becoming even more damaging to our schools.
Charity is helping NC public schools, but it’s not a sustainable plan
By Keith Poston, President, WakeEd Partnership
August 24, 2024
When did investing in public schools become so polarized and partisan? As a native North Carolinian, I always believed that investing in education at all levels was a primary reason for our state’s growth and prosperity.
Let’s expand access to pre-K for every child in Forsyth
By Dr. Laura Gerald and Shenell Thompson
First published in the Winston-Salem Journal, August 11, 2024
As we start the new school year, it’s exciting to have fresh evidence on the importance of Pre-K from a new pilot conducted right here in Forsyth County,
Why I Retired
Jeff Ruppenthal, former North Carolina public school principal
August 9, 2024
On July 1st, I retired from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools after having served for 31 years. The majority of my years were spent as an elementary school principal.
An Appeal to Stop Using Education as a Pawn and Four Issues Where Advocacy Could Help
By Dr. Don Phipps, NC 2023 Superintendent of the Year
July 12, 2024
I want to make an open appeal to anyone who reads this to please stop using education as a political pawn.
Policy Brief: Teacher Agency and Reform
By Bill Kessler, NC Public School Principal
June 28, 2024
North Carolina’s plan to improve elementary schools is actually failing them. he state assigns every school a grade based on end of grade test scores and schools with a D or F score are considered “low-performing.”
NCGA set to give what it owed to Class of 2024 to private school families making over $200k
By Kim Mackey, North Carolina teacher and author of educatEDpolicy (educatedpolicy.com)
May 18, 2024
What more would your child’s classroom have if the NC General Assembly had not deprived each NC classroom of nearly $100,000 since the Class of 2024 entered kindergarten?