Gov. Pat McCrory said Thursday he'll soon unveil a strategic plan for education that focuses on three Rs: Results for students, rewards for the best teachers and respect for "families, educators and local communities." And of course he brought up a fourth big R earlier in the week: Raises.
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| McCrory at Charlotte school choice rally |
McCrory said he'll roll out his plan "in coming weeks." And the legislature's advisory panel on teacher pay and effectiveness is finally ready to schedule its first meeting, now that the senate has appointed members.
Meanwhile, on the respect theme, organizers of Wednesday's Education Summit urged the 400-plus participants to show support for educators by tweeting messages of support to @CMS_schools using the hashtag #CMSappreciation, emailing appreciation@cms.k12.nc.us or posting pictures and videos to the CMS Facebook page.
I'm curious about what teachers think of such mass appreciation efforts, including an earlier push funded by state Board of Education member John Tate and other local backers that got a long list of tributes posted to http://thankstoateacher.com/. Do these kinds of messages boost morale?
I'm inclined to favor personal contact. It doesn't even have to be the big "you changed my life" letter, though I'm sure those are welcome. I bet parents can provide a much-needed boost to teachers just by shooting them an email when the kids come home excited about a lesson or proud of mastering a skill they've struggled with.
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33 comments:
1. I'm curious how McCrory is going to define "best"...is it by test scores and data?
2. It's lovely they want people to Tweet about teachers...I find it a giant PR stunt to distract from the fact that the legislature and the governor are ignorant and impotent when it comes to understanding what actually goes on in a real classroom for 180 days with kids who do achieve, don't care a lick, don't have food at home, don't have a good home life, are homeless, are apathetic...what superficial claptrap is a Tweet?
3. What kind of credibility does the "system" have when you tell students "you must do well on this test" and you make it where teachers are gauged as "best" or not based on those results and then because the people that work for you at NCDPI can't get THEIR crap together...the test only counts for some students and not others (i.e. the Seniors)...What if that Senior needed that test to pass and graduate and he/she really worked hard to do well knowing it was supposed to count 25% of his/her grade? I expect lawsuits over this one.
4. How is it that some teachers are going to be hamstringed by individual district mandates? CMS is one of the only districts in NC that STILL requires the Graduation Project. We won't even talk about how it is insulting to those Junior teachers, etc. who are basically told you have to do this one size fits all thing (while your observation measure, btw, encourages differentiation and engagement)...clearly, you couldn't do papers and projects based on your own professional judgement...but what about the fact that CMS Juniors NOW have the NC Final Exams in their English classes AND the Grad Project paper which is a MASSIVE undertaking because it is SO HORRIBLE WRITTEN BY THE DISTRICT and SO INEQUITABLY applied and enforced. What about those teachers working to prep students or THEIR final exams, while students in neighboring counties don't have that extra weight of that ridiculous project on their plates? Maybe when the district realizes test score data is in play they will finally get rid of it. MAYBE when PARENTS catch on and RAISE A RUCKUS they will finally get rid of it. The Junior teachers I know are perfectly capable, professional, and brilliant enough to do MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL papers and projects than this mandated monstrosity.
TWEET THAT!
The best way for parents and other community members to support teachers is to actively work to promote policies that help teachers do their jobs and support their families, including decent pay and a reduction of the burgeoning number of standardized tests that suck time, money and energy away from more valuable educational endeavors. As these are mainly state and federal issues, they need statewide efforts.
McCrory forgot the fifth "R"- Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Nothing he does will ever please the Left who have hijacked the public education system into a huge babysitting and political affair.
Without strong parents and rolemodels in the childs life, nothing will change.
In fact, the worse is still ahead. We have an entire generation in segments of the community who have no idea what it means to achieve on one's merit vs the free handouts that are now expected.
The gap will only increase with time unless fundamental changes are made, but don't hold your breath when there's money to be made on the poverty of others.
6:30 your emotion is palpable. I really feel for the CMS teachers, they are up against awful odds and circumstances out of their control.
Wasn't it great in the good ole days when teachers could really teach (in their own style) and parents taught proper behavior and expectations in the home?
Talk is cheap.
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Oh Mayor Pat you had your chance when you were in office locally to help CMS and you did nothing. Your term is almost up in Raleigh so with the trends it appears a re-election is slim to no shot. Thanks for my new higher state taxes by the way.
So folks any change that Pat would make for teachers would be temporary as his term is near its end. He may come back home and run for Mayor again who knows. His support or lack their of for education would be temporary.
Keith W. Hurley
Keith, What exactly should Pat have done to help CMS while mayor? City has no say over CMS finances or policies. Mayor Fox talked big about helping CMS while sending his kids to Country Day. I believe Mayor Canon's child or children attend Charlotte Christian. I think that speaks volumes about their opinion of the value of a CMS education--certainly doesn't help the system.
I agree and its Cannon I beleive. What Pat or any mayor can do is address the issues at the time. No mayor should be qouted as "its not my job to fix CMS" well pal your a leader so it is.
If Charlotte had a backbone we would have a full time mayor and he would be paid as one if he/she did their job. Education sure would be a indicator invloved with that job. As Mayor dont run/hide face the issues and education is one of them help turn it around. Keith W. Hurley
The brainiacs at the observer have set the bar really high. They want McCrory to pay teachers as much as the average of other states but don't say how we should pay for this!
North Carolina has a low cost of living. Wages are below other states. If we can afford to pay teachers the same as in other states, let's pay everybody else the same as other states too.
I say give teachers a raise, but don't set the bar impossibly high. North Carolina is a low wage state. Don't expect that to magically change.
Pat, You approve the casino in Kings Mountain you can give every teacher in the state a 20 k raise ! Do it !!
I can not wait until the day CMS gets that magic amount of money they need and all will be great.
I know that for as long as I can remember they have said it takes this and then this to get things right.
So I am crossing my fingers and hope to see the sky open up as they hit that unknown amount they need to educate kids after all.
CMS has money, teachers do not see it, but money is there. I hope teachers do not hold their breath.. It will probably be at least 3 years before they see a raise worth talking about. It will take elections.
Why is NC teachers pay so pathetic? Y is there health insurance 70/30? Y are family and spouse plans over 700 $ a check? I thought gov employees had awesome benefits? Why did my local school loose 3 teachers before break? Usually teacher wait until summer. When I talked to my friend (X CMS English teacher) she said her first check at her new district out of state was 1500 more and her taxes where less. She said all her teacher friends have resumes out. What is going on? Is South Carolina doing better then NC? Y can they continue to pay teachers yearly steps with inflation.. Why the hell does Arizona pay so much more for teachers? NV was crushed by the recession, yet their teachers still have steps.. What is wrong here.. I have been doing some research and nobody else seems to be bashing their teachers like NC.. Some states last year did not give cost of living but teachers where still given step raises. I understood the freeze during the crash but what the hell!! If NV, without state tax can pay it's teachers, y can't we? Their is no reason for teachers to stay. Y would Mcory and the legislature, who no teachers have been taking it on the chin, start slashing masters pay and rights? Even if you disagree with special rights, (like I do) is it really the best time? What is the education lotto for? Sorry teachers but the fix is in... Sorry I didn't pay attention to this earlier but I come from a place where sons and fathers may have the same teachers. Here, schools look different every year.. I loved my sons teacher. My daughter will never have him.
Dear poster, what the "hell" is going here? It's actually quite simple. The business community "ALEC" American Legislative Exchange Council is behind 99 percent of bashing teachers. Pay for performance, high standards, blame teachers, make the dogs jump through the hoop mentality, you know, all the things that business never does. North Carolina and its legislators care very little for public education because most of their children attend private schools or at least Charter schools. NC Legislators do not have original ideas, they're told what to introduce in the House and Senate by ALEC and they blindly follow the state of Florida when it comes to making laws, "great example." In essence, you have moved to a state that prefers to make laws in the middle of the night, restrict any semblance of democracy and voting rights and rewards those who have more with more. North Carolina's state motto as you will learn is "To be rather than to seem!" In reality it is "To seem rather than to be!"
Ahhhh. the old bash the conservatives comments and blame them for education ills...
Democrat Bev Perdue:
~ Perdue voiced enthusiastic support for converting from a pay scale based on experience and credentials to one based on student achievement and other measures of teacher performance.
"I believe in the 21st century you've got to look at a whole different model," she said. "The way we're paying teachers now doesn't work." (from Your Schools ADH 2/18/2011)
~ On Gorman's worst-case budget approach: Perdue said she wishes more superintendents would roll out early projections on how budget cuts could play out, because it alerts the public and cranks up pressure on county commissioners to do right by school spending. "I admire what he's doing. I think the approach is direct with people and they need to know what's at stake." (from Your Schools ADH 2/18/2011)
~ To help balance the 2008-09 budget, Gov. Bev Perdue emptied $50 million from lottery reserves. The 2009-10 budget diverted to the General Fund $69 million in lottery money slated initially for school construction.
Perdue supported pay for performance, she froze teacher's salaries and raided the NC Education Lottery - twice.
The irony here is that Perdue cast the deciding vote to pass the lottery bill under Democrat Governor Sleazely.
Gotta love those hypocritical liberals.
" If NV, without state tax can pay it's teachers, y can't we?"
Casinos.
Wiley and 9:06, you point out the exact reasons I have become disenchanted with this "protest" against the NC legislature and Gov Pat. They think all of this present dilemma is due only to the republicans. They ignore how the democrats talk out of both sides of their mouths (biphonic). They forget many of policy directions dealing with teachers and testing came from Gov Bev taking federal money over her years. And yes they are similar to the Republican Party's philosophy. Isn't that ironic of Obama and Arne?
This does not have to be political. Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada all are able to pay their teachers and only one of them have a major casino industry. Nevada does not have a "education lotto" either. But this is beside the point. Just because Democrats where neglectful to teachers, does not give Republicans a free pass. I am an independent and I voted for Mcory and Tillis. I hoped they would fight against Obama education. Common Core is crap. Teacher pay is crap. 70/30 really.. I thought government employees received good benefits because it was such a large group? Anyway blaming the old guy is getting old... Just like when Obama kept blaming Bush. Give teachers their pay back.. It's wasn't that great to begin with. Start holding parents accountable.. Break up these mega districts, bigger is not always better. Let's move on. FLORIDA is trying this Obama corporate education model and it's not that great. Please people of NC, wake up from your news bubbles and see, Obama and Jeb Bush are pushing the same idea.. Wherever this gov.corporate.ed idea is pushed a cheating scandal followed by a cover up follows. Stop letting the power elite control us. Keep them out of NC and let's work together to have a great state.
I never even cared about the protest until I saw our children's teachers being arrested. What else can they do.. They do not negotiate for contracts. They do not have a union. They under the thumb of Administration. I have seen teachers being yelled at by principles. I feel for them. They have all the responsibility in the world but no authority. Parents get a free ride.. I don't want my children's teachers to leave but I can't blame them if they do.
You don't have to be a political master mind to see Mcory has handled the teacher pay situation poorly. I personally do not believe in party's. I vote for people. I think it's funny we have to have studies to prove patents are the greatest common factor in a students education. Common sence would have saved time and money. As for the Haverd Study ( I say that with my nose in the air) the last 4 presidents went to Ivy league schools and I believe all of them lacked common sense. When Regan was negotiating with Gorbachev, many of his own people where scared. The soviet leader when to the finest schools in Russia. He attended their version of Harvard. This worried many of Regan's cabinet members. Regan did not attend such a school. Regan mopped the floor with the the Soviet leader every time. Reagan warned us of an educational elite. Reagan was never really a fun of Bush senior. THEY LIVE IN BUBBLES. Regan was also supported and a fan of the common teacher. Pay them what was promised and movie on.. Stay independent NC
Wiley,
Where did 12:35 make a reference to a political party (liberal versus conservative) in his/her post? For the last 30-plus years, public education has been raided by corporate interests. We have become so blinded by hyper-partisanship to realize we're being screwed by corporations who lobby our government to protect a system that has benefitted them.
8:53
ALEC, ALEC, ALEC. Blaming ALEC for education ills.
The dismal direction of education over the past 35 plus years has nothing to do with business, but rather federal government interference through busing, political correctness, wasteful spending and diversity at all cost programs that have failed.
For CMS teachers…..Virginia is hiring for the entire southwest area of the state.
Check the Observer employment ads in education today www.wvpec.org
Happy to see other districts raiding the state for talent.
http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/24/news/economy/middle-class-economy/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
Wiley Coyote is the lone voice in the rich wilderness telling people that all is well with education reform in NC. He tells people he supports teachers with one hand while slapping them in the face with the other, something he and Gov. McCrory share. It is truly self-evident why Republicans have only been in charge of NC for three times in its history. When November rolls around I can definitely see Republicans losing a large protion of their control of both House and Senate, then perhaps McCrory will be humbled a bit. However, rather than being all talk, I am content with what November will bring.
Wiley Coyote, are you a recovering alcoholic? Have you relapsed? ALEC has nothing to do with the current educational climate? ALEC has fully admitted that it is out to privatize public education and is will use whatever resources available at its disposal to do so. If you don't believe me, then look it up, it called Google and it's widely available.
Wiley, notice that you are the lone voice on these posts with an outdated version of the American dream. You are a person who has more and continually wants more. You want what your neighbor has and then the entire neighborhood. How much is too much? Do you attend church, if not, you should think about learning from someone called Jesus. I am fairly sure that your philosophy and his are directly opposed.
Wiley,
Today, the USDOE and corporations are in bed together. Bill Gates and his corporate buddies, created and financed CCSS. Since your only source for information is the corporate-based media, you probably think they are voluntary and stete-led which they are not. All of today's reforms (vouchers, charters, PfP, testing) have been financed and promoted by business types who think see schools as corpoations and students as data points,
Our education ills began long before ALEC. And they are not just in NC. It's more like the whole country for several generations now.
Ever since people found out how much they could get from the guvment just by whining or threatening to riot. This is not the result of current politics as much as from LBJ.
To the last four posters directing their comments to me (whether you're the same person or not), perhaps you should go back and read the comment I made to 8:53, who questioned another post I made to someone blaming ALEC for education ills over the past 35 years.
Then you might understand my comment thread, but then again,maybe your reading comprehension or the ability to follow the bouncing ball isn't one of your strong points.
Either way, you failed miserably.
Democratics V.S Republicans... Old, tired and divisive.. But that's what they want. Put everyone in their box and control them all. The masses watch flickering screens.. Those who do pay attention are arguing and divided... Big business and government dance while we fight. Walk into a major Corp board meeting at 1, go to another at 3... Deferent people may be speaking but the rooms will both be field with the same people.. Cronie capitalism. Your a senator one day and chairman of the board the next.. You make new laws about testing and then work for the testing company the next day.. There are no more Democratic or Republican leaders anymore.. There is us and them. I am not talking about the millionaire down the road who worked their tales off making a business, hiring workers, fighting though the BS government red tape and road blocks. I am not talking about the 1% I am talking about the 1% of the 1%. Kennedy and Reagan warned us of them. Wiley.. 20 years ago I would agree with most of your points.. Bit know I belive the paradigm has shifted. John Paul warned America of the Cronie capitalist. As for education.. It will be sick as long as our society is sick. As long as our families are broken our schools will be broken. Blaming teachers is just another distraction from the real problem. The socialists will never admit collectivism doesn't work. Strong families make a strong country. My God bless you all
Well said. Teachers need to pay attention to local elections and vote. Do not hamstring your self to one party or another. Vote for candidates who will support you. Also be active when in church and the community.
Do u know about licenses.. Does VA have reciprocity. The pay is almost 10 grand more.
It's smart for VA to come here.. If this state has anything, it's teachers wanting to leave..lol
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