Cartoon
Opinion
Innovative School District: A promising idea for improving schools
In 2016, the General Assembly passed a bill that created the Achievement School District — later changed to the Innovative School District or ISD — which was tasked to coordinate the transfer of up to five persistently low-performing district schools to a charter school operator. The purpose of the legislation was straightforward — assist district schools that haven’t been able to improve student achievement...
Cartoon
Lethal connection
Opinion
Why kids bully and what to do about it
“Hurt people hurt people.” That’s how one middle school principal summed up the origins of bullying for me. My interview with her was one of many I conducted, years ago, for a parenting book I wrote — yet her concise description of why kids bully has always stayed with me. It makes even more sense...
Cartoon
Perspective
Opinion
Judge government by value added
After adjusting test scores for student characteristics, only seven states — including North Carolina — rank high on at least three of four NAEP exams. Most of them spend less than the national average on public schools.
Cartoon
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Opinion
Coolidge’s cubs teach important fiscal lesson
The 30th president used his pets to highlight tax and spending priorities.
Cartoon
Infrastructure week was awesome
Opinion
State leaders won’t blow surplus
House Speaker Tim Moore, Senate leader Phil Berger, and their colleagues are determined not to repeat North Carolina's sad history of spending too much during boom years and then having to raise regressive sales taxes during recessionary years.
Cartoon
Fiction or nonfiction?
Opinion
Backroads, byways, boondoggles, and brouhahas
Backroads, byways, boondoggles, and brouhahas is an occasional column — taken from news sources throughout North Carolina — highlighting how government spends our money and makes other questionable moves about which state residents may not be aware. Robeson County is where North Carolina ends. Interstate 95 cuts straight through this southeastern county, which has seen its...
