Public Education Archives - Page 2 of 5

Chaos in the Stratham Classroom

March 9, 2025March 9, 2025 Ann Marie Banfield

I’ve been warning you about the chaos in the classroom for a while now. There are a few reasons for the chaos, but it looks like Stratham taxpayers may be on the hook for more of their tax dollars in order to manage it. There are a few reasons for the “chaotic classroom.” Some of … Read more

People Gettin’ Feisty About the EFA Debate.

January 16, 2025January 14, 2025 Steve MacDonald

I read what Ian Underwood writes on these pages about education Freedom Accounts (EFAs), education, funding, and learning goals. I have to say I agree, and like Ian, I like the idea of EFAs, so I hope you will tune in tomorrow for my interview with Ian and Jody. We talk about education. From money … Read more

Gambling On Education

January 13, 2025 Matt T.

Gambling, for most people, is a voluntary activity, a choice. Why does the state force the rest of us to gamble on education? When gambling, players know the basic odds before playing, and accept that the house has an advantage. They put money up front and depend on chance (in a fair game) to let … Read more

Teachers: “We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Standards”

January 12, 2025 Skip

Almost any professional profession (sorry, just HAD to do that!) has standards that they have to follow, especially if they want some letters after their names (e.g. RN, MD, PE, CPA, PMP, CEH {heh – Certified Ethical Hacker! Really, it’s a “thing”}, AWS, CSCP). Study hard and take the exams (sometimes, multiple times, like trying … Read more

To Solve Education Funding/Quality Crisis, Look to Independent Schools

November 28, 2024 Rob Roper

As I have noted in past observations of the Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont, this collection of special interest group lobbyists has no real desire to solve the property tax/education finance crisis facing Vermonters today. Their objective, quite to the contrary, is to keep the money flowing unhindered and unquestioned into … Read more

Ruth Ward et Rick Ladd Removenda Est

November 25, 2024November 24, 2024 Ian Underwood

[Updated 11/25/2025, to reflect new information that has been brought to my attention. Although Sen. Ruth Ward sponsored the bill, the requirement that schools actually teach all kids to read and do math was deleted in an amendment offered by Rep. Rick Ladd. I can find no indication that Sen. Ward voted against, or objected … Read more

Send This To Your Superintendent and School Board

November 11, 2024 Ann Marie Banfield

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

classroom empty desks original Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay

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

July 11, 2024July 11, 2024 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 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 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 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 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 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 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?

December 17, 2025January 12, 2024 Mike Belcher

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. First, why is it said that we must fund public education in New Hampshire at the state level? The answer is that a supreme court ruling interpreted the NH … Read more

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

January 3, 2024January 1, 2024 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 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 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 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 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.