The Slow and Fast Assault on Public Education

May 14, 2018 HENRY A. GIROUX Since Donald Trump’s election in November 2016, there have been few occasions to feel hopeful about politics. But now we are witnessing a proliferation of causes for hope, as brave students from Parkland, Florida, and equally courageous teachers throughout the United States lead movements of mass demonstrations, walkouts, and…

NC’s average teacher pay is $51,214. How many teachers make that?

By Kelly Hinchcliffe, WRAL education reporter RALEIGH, N.C. — In March, the state education department released the new figure – North Carolina’s average teacher pay reached $51,214 this year, the first time it has surpassed $50,000. Media outlets, including WRAL News, reported the salary estimate. Soon after, comments came streaming in to the WRAL newsroom, disputing the…

Cooper calls for freezing some tax cuts to give teachers raises

  By Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor, & Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday called for freezing tax cuts supposed to take effect next year for businesses and wealthy individuals to free up money to give every public school teacher in North Carolina a raise of at least…

Organizer: Teacher rally will be ‘something Raleigh has never seen’

By Natalie Matthews, WRAL.com web editor, and Kelly Hinchcliffe, WRAL education reporter RALEIGH, N.C. — So far, 26 school districts across North Carolina have canceled classes next Wednesday as anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 teachers plan to march to the Legislative Building then rally on Bicentennial Plaza. Groups raise money to ensure Durham school students don’t…

Teachers Are Leading the Revolt Against Austerity

The strikes aren’t just about pay. They’re a rejection of tax cuts for the wealthy and a rallying cry for public goods and services. By Jane McAlevey In less than three months, rank-and-file teachers and educational support staff in five states—West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Colorado and Arizona—have turned the entire country into their classroom. They haven’t…

Classes cancelled May 16 so teachers can rally in Raleigh

Board Vice Chair Carolyn Carpenter and Chair Cindy Fertenbaugh discuss making Wednesday, May 16 an optional teacher workday. The Cabarrus County Board of Education made the decision during its work session on Monday, May 7. Erin Kidd  May 10, 2018 CONCORD— Cabarrus County Schools added its name to the list of districts that will be…

Alabama schools struggle with teacher diversity

By Trisha Powell Crain Updated Sep 5, 2017; Posted Jul 13, 2017 This is the latest story in our series Tackling the Gap: A Teacher’s Conversation. The gap between black and white students in Alabama is both large and persistent when it comes to the percentage scoring proficient on standardized tests. AL.com and Spaceship Media are facilitating an online conversation with Alabama teachers, exploring…