Category: Education
Departing UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp said more than he knew in a recent interview with The News and Observer. Thorp said that dealing with intercollegiate athletics was the most important part of the job of chancellor. Notice it wasn’t educating students, training future thinkers and leaders, undertaking research or attracting the best faculty possible. Thorp [...]
by Tom Campbell Once again we hear calls for education reform and like many issues there is some right and some wrong in what is being discussed. It is wrong to say our education system is broken. It is right that there are enough problems that we should seek education reform. Our students prove this [...]
by Tom Campbell Senate suggestions that now might be a good time to consider the elimination or consolidation of one or more of the UNC 16-campus system drew immediate and passionate opposition, some calling it a war on public universities. William Link, in his biography of Bill Friday, reminds us the current UNC System was [...]
By Elizabeth F. Farrell, Scholastic Administrator Magazine, Spring 2013 If they haven’t been tossed already, textbooks at Mooresville Graded School District sit unused, piled in corners of classrooms. Desks are no longer neatly arranged in rows, and students rarely sit quietly and listen to extended lectures. At Mooresville, 20 miles outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, [...]
Published in Washington Post, March 10th A growing number of states are drawing a hard line in elementary school, requiring children to pass a reading test in third grade or be held back from fourth grade. Thirteen states last year adopted laws that require schools to identify, intervene and, in many cases, retain students who [...]
We applaud House Speaker Thom Tillis and legislators for holding “Education Week” in the House this week. Legislators heard from school superintendents Tuesday, principals on Wednesday and teachers Thursday in question and answer sessions. This was an opportunity for a genuine dialogue and rapport to be established between those who educate and those who legislate. [...]
The American Association of School Administrators recently honored Mark Edwards, Superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District, as National Superintendent of the Year. In making the announcement the AASA executive director said, “Mark Edwards is exactly the kind of superintendent we need to carry public education deep into the 21st century. He gets it. He [...]
by Tom Campbell Pat McCrory learned (or ought to have) three lessons of his own following his radio interview with former US Education Secretary Bill Bennett. Lesson 1: When you are governor everything you say will be noted. Don’t ask if the media or your opposition will find out. Instead ask how it will be [...]
by Tom Campbell The new reality has North Carolina Republicans in control of all three branches of state government: the Governor’s mansion, legislature and with a majority on our Supreme Court. But the change doesn’t end there. The next takeover target will be education. Governor Pat McCrory will soon name six new members to the [...]
by Tom Campbell North Carolina’s efforts in improving education appear to be paying dividends. A comparative study of student achievement found our fourth and eighth grade students ranked highly with students in other states and other countries. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study results for 2011 showed that North Carolina was the only [...]
When Liberals Love Privatization
by John Hood Remember Where’s Waldo? Imagine for a moment that he had the word “privatization” stitched on his colorful little cap, and see if you can spot him in this word picture: North Carolina spends billions of dollars a year funding a critical service. But rather than deliver the service directly, the state allows [...]
The arrogant power-grabbing continues on Jones Street
by Chris Fitzsimon The General Assembly is always chaotic during the week of the crossover deadline and this session is no exception with rushed committee meetings, late night sessions, and supplemental calendars issued for the House and Senate floor listing what will be debated and voted on. Even for legislative insiders like lobbyists, reporters, and [...]
by John Hood Decisions made by the North Carolina General Assembly over the next two weeks will likely determine not only the political fate of its Republican majority but also how the core functions of state government will operate for years to come. Some analysts have chosen not to wait to assess these matters. Liberal [...]
