While discussing my article concerning heir apparent to the UNC Presidency Tom Ross on the Bill Lumaye Show, and conversing with the condescending Rob Schofield of NC Policy Watch, I regret that I was cut short in my attempts to bring complete clarity to the issue at hand and respond sufficiently to my left-wing counterpart. [...]
Education Archives
- Sep01
American views on public education
Education Next has released its annual survey on American education. The poll of 2,800 respondents included a nationally representative sample of adults. It also included samples of two special populations: public school teachers and adults living in neighborhoods where or more charter schools are located. A brief look at the findings is revealing. Grading the [...]
- Aug31
Great Film in the Charlotte Area
The Jessee Helms Center is screening 33 Minutes a film on missile defense by the Heritage Foundation Here are the facts: 33 Minutes Film Screening September 9, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. TATE HALL at Central Piedmont Community College 1206 Elizabeth Avenue – Charlotte, NC 28204 After the film screening, attendees are invited to participate in [...]
- 1Aug31
Thomas Ross: “Friends in Low Places”
Thomas Ross’ support for radical, left wing groups just continues to grow. Yesterday, we exposed how he funded the nefarious organization ACORN and now, this report highlights his support for abortion and gay rights. In the second installment of the three-part series examining the new President, I expose just how much money he funneled to [...]
- Aug30
Meet Thomas Ross and his Lefty Friends
After an abrupt vote by the Board of Governors, Thomas Ross, former Superior Court Judge and Executive Director of left-wing charitable organization Z. Smith Reynolds, becomes next in line to be President of the UNC system. Now he will preside over 200,000 students at 16 campuses across the state. A quick look into his background, [...]
- 1Aug25
Race to the Top Funds Merely Empower Education Establishment
The North Carolina education establishment is giddy about being awarded manna from heaven federal “Race to the Top” funds to “spur classroom innovation.” In its proposal seeking the $400 million over four years, North Carolina aimed to raise student test scores, boost high school graduation rates and better prepare students for careers and college work. [...]
- Aug24
Hate that tuition bill? Blame the increase on administration.
If you think American universities are top heavy with administrators you’re not alone. Last week the Arizona- based Goldwater Institute released, Administrative Bloat at American Universities: The Real Reason for High Costs in Higher Education. The report analyzes fifteen years (1993-2007) of employment, enrollment and spending data from 196 of the country’s leading institutions. According [...]
- 1Aug23
Award raises questions
Over the weekend, Gov. Bev Perdue awarded state NAACP president Rev. William Barber the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. It’s interesting that Perdue chose to focus on Barber. Barber has gained most of his notoriety for leading the opposition to the Wake County School Board’s decision to scrap the use of socioeconomic status in [...]
- 1Aug17
Who Should Pay for Loida’s Tuition and Healthcare?
Towards the end of June, three students spent several days on a hunger strike at a camp site near the N.C. State Archives building. The strike ended on June 27th when one of the students, Loida Ginocchio-Silva, went to the emergency room for dehydration and heat stroke related conditions. Their intention was to persuade Senator [...]
- 1Aug16
Last days for UNC tuition cap?
Should the UNC lift its four-year old tuition cap? That’s the question UNC officials are hoping to decide by the end of the year. When tuition fails to reflect an institution’s real costs, adjustments need to be made. The cap should be lifted not because we favor higher student costs, but because the cap creates an artificial economic system, which is [...]
- Aug13
Saving jobs that haven’t been lost
Interesting how we’re now learning that the $300 million in federal money North Carolina is receiving to save teacher jobs might not be used to save teacher jobs. Why? The massive layoffs many school districts feared haven’t materialized. Officials from the governor’s office spent yesterday trying to figure out how the money could be spent. [...]
- Aug11
The real cost of federal bailouts
Congress is moving ahead with a $26 billion bailout bill that pays for extra Medicaid expenses and protects teacher jobs. According to the Department of Public Instruction, North Carolina would receive about $300 million in grants and protect about 4,800 teaching positions. Of course the money has state law makers and educators salivating. So much so that [...]
- Aug10
Some perspective on NC graduation rates
The release of last week’s state graduation rate report shows North Carolina has been making slow but steady progress on boosting the percentage of students graduating after four years of high schools. For example, in 2006-07 North Carolina’s 4-year graduation rate was 69.5 percent. In 2009-10, that same number had risen to 74.2 percent. It’s [...]
- Aug06
ABC scores and graduation rates: reading the numbers
Yesterday was a big day for those who watch the progress of public education in North Carolina. The Department of Public Instruction released the results of the annual ABC tests and also data on graduation rates. Many education experts were ecstatic with the results. They include an increase in the 4-year graduation rate from 71.8 [...]
- Aug05
Bailouts R’ Us
The latest $26 billion federal bailout package passed yesterday claims it will protect another 4,500 teaching jobs in North Carolina. If you remember, earlier this year Gov. Perdue transferred over $100 million in lottery revenue to protect another 1,700 teacher and other staff positions. So we’re protecting 6,200 school positions that normally would have been [...]
- Aug04
More personnel cuts likely at WCPSS
Those of you wondering where the Wake County School Board might find an additional $2.6 million in budget savings, you might be interested in a piece I wrote in late April about Wake County Office of Central Services(CS). Since April, CS has absorbed nearly $20 million in cuts and the loss of about 70 full-time [...]
- Aug03
Where is the educational diversity?
This morning’s Wake Ed blog raises concerns about the steady drop in Wake County Public Schools market share of the county’s school-age children. According to the article, Wake County’s share shrunk from over 90 percent in the early 90s to approximately 83 percent today. Funny. For all the talk about diversity, it’s amazing how much [...]
- 1Aug02
Big Oil, Big Tobacco & Big Ed?
Education Next has an eye-opening article on the growing influence of teachers unions, especially in political campaigns. How powerful are the unions? According to the Center for Responsive Politics and the National Institute on Money in State Politics: In the 2007-08 election cycle, total spending on state and federal campaigns, political parties, and ballot measures [...]
- Jul28
Race-to-the-Top and its carnage
I think we’re all suppose to be giddy by yesterday’s announcement that North Carolina is a finalist in the scecond round for Federal Race to the Top Funds. I”ve spelled out my reasons why I don’t share in the excitement. However, now I can add another to the list. To improve the state’s chances of qualifying for RttT [...]
- 1Jul22
HEAT Asking the Wrong Question
HEAT is upset because in their mind, the Wake County School Board is enforcing socioeconomic segregation. What one believes about the board’s decision ultimately comes down to personal preference. Is it worth it to bus kids farther for the sake of socioeconomic diversity in the classroom? HEAT says yes, the board said no. On its [...]