Opinion
Understanding The Great Pause
Our state showed some of the largest test-score gains in the country through the mid- to late-1990s. But since then, North Carolina’s performance has been lackluster.
Opinion
On The Outside, Looking In
For Bill Graham, a straightforward “yes” or “no” isn’t just a way to answer a question. It’s a way to reinforce his political persona.
Opinion
On Government By Executive Summary
Government by executive summary (or press release) is dangerous because it can give politicians the false impression that they know what they are talking about.
Opinion
A Forced Annexation Fallacy
There's no evidence that cities need the power of forced annexation to boost their economic health.
Opinion
Time To Graduate To Better Ideas
Our current education system is broken, on multiple levels. Solving the problem will not involve simply making kids spend more time in a broken system.
Opinion
Lost in the Middle
Much has been said in recent years about reforming our high schools. Given widespread data documenting a worrisome dropout crisis, this makes good sense. But what about the critical school grades that bridge the gap between late childhood and full-blown adolescence? Do these middle school years impact a student’s determination to stay in school?
Opinion
Not A Debatable Proposition
There are at least three reasons to believe that political contests with many candidate forums serve the Republic better than contests waged mostly in other ways.
Opinion
Pretty Bad Best-Case Scenario
If the EPA’s assumption about the rebirth of nuclear power turns out to be wrong, then the cost of cap-and-trade will be worse than its current estimates suggest.
Opinion
Can A Numbers Guy Beat The Odds?
Ask the two-term state treasurer a question about virtually any issue, and the response will likely include a statistic or two, or twelve.
Opinion
Train Trouble Ahead
A real trip on an existing train demonstrates the folly of pursuing new rail service for Triangle commuters.
Opinion
The Visitor At The Capital
He’s bright, persuasive, confident, and comfortable talking about key issues. But Pat McCrory's most-valuable asset is that he’s not from Raleigh.
Opinion
Don’t Bully That Pulpit
Bullying on K-12 campuses is a serious problem that merits our renewed attention. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicate that 28 percent of students between the ages of 12 and 18 are harassed at school.
