Tag: Public Education

Send This To Your Superintendent and School Board

November 11, 2024

by Ann Marie Banfield

Parents need to ask their Superintendent and School Board what they plan to do with this information:

Executive Council Funds Unethical Mental Health Practices in NH’s Public Schools

July 11, 2024July 11, 2024

by Ann Marie Banfield

Many people contacted the Executive Council to ask them to turn down a half million dollar grant that would be used to further support the Multi Tiered System of Support for Behavior in our public schools. The MTSS-B is a framework focused on a child’s behavior and mental health. Now that the MTSS-B has been implemented in New Hampshire Schools, we are discovering all kinds of problems.

You Are Paying Your Public Servants 39.9% More Than You Make To Do the “Same” Job

July 5, 2024

by Skip

For years, people groused about the high taxes in my town, so the Budget Committee Chair, at the time, asked me (knowing I was a “data guy”) to look into it – so I did. The comparison was against the 30-odd other towns that were “close enough” in size and population to make reasonable estimates for the 25 or so job descriptions.

Reading education sunset Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

When Johnny Can’t Read

July 3, 2024

by Ian Underwood

I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but still, I am surprised at all the hyperbolic reactions that are being published in response to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity for official acts.

G.E.T. R.E.A.L! – E: Education Reform

April 22, 2024April 7, 2024

by Op-Ed

Vermont’s K-12 public education system is broken. When Vermont passed Act 60 in 1997, our schools consistently performed in the top five nationwide. Since then, spending has exploded while student counts have dropped from 106,000 kids to less than 80,000, and test scores have been steadily falling for the past decade and a half.

More Money Will Only Make The “Public Education Problem” Worse

March 10, 2024March 10, 2024

by Steve MacDonald

Vermont taxpayers are screwed. Their Democrat majority government can override any Phil Scott Veto (assuming he’s not also part of the problem) and where there are Democrats, there will be higher taxes and little or nothing to show for the taking. The failed public education experiment is a great example.

Article 83 – It’s Not about ‘cherish’, It’s about ‘and’

January 16, 2024

by Ian Underwood

A proposed constitutional amendment (CACR 12) has been put forward, which would amend Article 83 of the state constitution by replacing the word ‘cherish’ with the word ‘cherish.’

students classroom (no masks) kids teacher Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Teachers Pay Should Be Relative to The Success of The School or The Class

January 15, 2024

by Op-Ed

I used to agree that teachers are not being paid enough, but not so much anymore. I do believe we should support students going to college for teaching degrees. It is the only group I would agree to help with paying college loans, no others.

What Then, Is the Purpose of Public Education?

January 12, 2024

by Op-Ed

With the recent court decisions, we need a bit of analysis on NH education funding and recent (and historic) NH Supreme Court decisions regarding the NH Constitution.

The Nashua School District Unlevels (De-Levels) Classroom Learning

January 3, 2024January 1, 2024

by Steve MacDonald

Advanced Placement for students in public schools who are more intellectually agile, capable, gifted, or just faster learners is proof of something. Racism? White Privilege (even if the bright kid is Asian or black). Whatever it is, it is unfair, and the government schools are on an equity mission to stop it.

When All You Have Is a School, Everything Looks Like…

December 15, 2023

by Ian Underwood

I’ve been participating in an email thread where the main idea is more or less that ‘special education is ruining everything’ in schools.

Valley News Pimps Progressive Education Tax Propaganda

December 10, 2023December 10, 2023

by Steve MacDonald

The headline is “property taxpayers bear the brunt of costs.” The subject is education funding, which, if you are paying any attention, is a dramedy akin to The Money Pit but with no beautiful anything at the end of the “movie.”

An 18 Percent Property Tax Increase Will Not Fix Our Public Schools

December 8, 2023

by Rob Roper

The Scott Administration made big news last week when they warned of an unprecedented impending property tax increase for next year of 18.5 percent. Driven by a 12 percent year-over-year increase in public school spending, they anticipate this will add another $650 to the bill of a $250,000 home.

Will Manchester Waste More Money on Professional Development for Teachers?

December 7, 2023

by Ann Marie Banfield

Manchester teachers are getting a new contract. It calls for four more days of professional development. While PD can be beneficial to teachers, taxpayers should be looking at what teachers will be doing during every professional development day.

Local School District Policy Says, US Society Based on Genocide, Slavery, White Privilege

November 6, 2023

by Op-Ed

The Essex-Westford School District’s equity policy considers the nation’s economic status a result of genocide, slavery, white privilege, ongoing systematic oppression, and more.

On, “Graphic Depictions of Sexual Acts That Are Made Available to Minor Children…”

October 24, 2023October 24, 2023

by Steve MacDonald

There is an excellent clip making the rounds of a woman who testified before Congress on K-12 public schooling. What she said caught the attention of Moms 4 Liberty, who shared it on Instagram, but there is no indication of her name or who she was. I wanted to hear the rest.

Why is the Vermont Media Ignoring the Slate Valley School Board Story?

July 16, 2024October 4, 2023

by Rob Roper

About a month ago, I wrote a story about Slate Valley School Board member Curtis Hier’s battle with both the school officials he was elected to oversee and his fellow board members, who don’t seem to appreciate Hier’s desire to get to the bottom of some serious problems in the system that are negatively impacting students.

Education: Some Rules for Changing the Rules

October 3, 2023

by Ian Underwood

The following is an open letter to Frank Edelblut, Commissioner of Education, and Drew Cline, Chairman of the Board of Education, regarding a document that is making the rounds offering the public a chance to comment on proposed changes to the Ed Rules that govern public schools in New Hampshire. Dear Commissioner Edelblut and Chairman … Read more

How the Shutdown Affected Student Performance: Conclusion (part 8 of 8)

September 26, 2023

by Jody Underwood

This is the final article in the How the Shutdown Affected Student Performance series. This series was inspired by two recent statements made by Croydon Village School Principal Nicole Lackie to the Croydon School Board. First, she claimed the pandemic shutdowns caused poor student performance. Then, she stated that teachers don’t really know how to … Read more

The Migrant Surge Is Coming To The Classroom

September 18, 2023

by Op-Ed

Democratic politicians and the liberal media made the first day of school all about welcoming migrant children. That’s sheer propaganda. Parents deserve the truth. The migrant surge is a disaster for their kids.