The myth of teacher tenure
If only we could abolish teacher tenure, propose liberals and conservatives alike, surely we could improve our nation’s public schools. Right? Wrong. Although hailed as a panacea, getting rid of... Read More
NC Spin Articles
Deep wells inappropriate for NC fracking
By Vikram Rao, the executive director of the Research Triangle Energy Consortium and a member of the Mining and Energy Commission , Published in News and Observer, July 23, 2013. The General... Read More
GOP delivers a tight budget
Editorial from Winston-Salem Journal, July 22, 2013. The compromise state budget released Sunday night and almost certain to be approved by the House and Senate this week moves North Carolina spending... Read More
The airport mystery
Editorial, Greensboro News and Record, July 23, 2013. One of the most baffling political dramas of this year — and there have been many — has been the struggle between the state legislature and... Read More
No need to grease the skids of 'streamlining' state personnel
Editorial, News and Observer, July 21, 2013. Now, one can’t blame state employees for being a little hesitant to support Gov. Pat McCrory’s desire to “streamline” the State Personnel Act... Read More
Read by third grade, or face consequences
This fall, North Carolina launches a new assault on reading proficiency – or rather the lack of proficiency by too many N.C. third graders. N.C. lawmakers hope to change that through a plan that... Read More
Fracking offers energy potential
Editorial, Jacksonville Daily News, July 11, 2013. President Barack Obama was right when he conceded recently that the boom in U.S. natural gas production is both good for the environment and good for... Read More
It’s time for McCrory to start rattling some teeth
Within North Carolina political circles, stories abound regarding the hard lessons doled out by the political enforcers of earlier governors. Not too long ago, most governors understood that they... Read More
Year-round school has plusses
Editorial Durham Herald-Sun, July 17, 2013. Many of us still remember those days when the calendar was rhythmically predictable from year to year. When June came, along with it came the long-awaited... Read More
Governors ranked by economic growth
In researching my upcoming biography of former North Carolina Gov. Jim Martin, I’ve been conducting personal interviews, rooting through boxes of archival material, and collecting press coverage of... Read More
