newsobserver.com projects - Bill Harrison - Comments

Re: Don't read the instructions

Kingixolib — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:03:45 -0500

Maybe the reason for the confusion is that someone who didn't pass the competency tests wrote the instructions. It's but one of the downfalls when the criteria for a diploma is "just show up".

Re: Board dreams of longer school year

stoops — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:40:30 -0400

I will defer to the comments included in the "Young Voices" section of the Charlotte Observer in March.

Khevna Desai, 16, School of Math, Engineering, Technology, & Science at Olympic High School, Charlotte, says,

"It's quality not quantity that matters. ... In our schools we spend about 50 percent of the school day learning, and the other 50 percent having fun. Another two hours in school isn't going to change anything if those two hours are spent wasting time."

Sean Keady, 12, Marvin Ridge Middle School, Waxhaw, says,

"Students shouldn't spend more time with their teachers. Instead, the time with the students should be used effectively."

Emily Trenning, 14, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte, says

"Yes, foreign students seem to be smarter than us. However, I think it's because of their teachers and their lessons, not because of the length of their school day or the hours they put in."

Finally, Adam Kiihr, 16, Charlotte Christian, Charlotte, says,

"While America's education system is a blatant and glaring problem, adding to the time that students spend in the classroom will not be nearly as effective as making the time already spent in the classroom more effective."

Re: School board sets its goals

neo_mom — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:13:01 -0400

I think I found where we can save a bunch of money and give it to the local school districts....

Eliminate the entire State Board of Education and all of the bureaucrats at the DPI.

It took them two days at a hotel to come up with that dreck?

Good god - get a group of parents together and you'd come up with better even if they don't have the vaunted PhD.

Still paying 2 leaders of education?

concerned53 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:41:01 -0400

Are we still paying Bill Harrison $250k or more on top of what the state pays Atkinson, who was elected State Superintendent in 2008?

My suggestion: A Monument to Eddie Davis

PoliticalJunkie — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:04:14 -0400

And all he has done to wreck the state budget and public schools.

Re: State to intervene in Halifax schools

CitizenOpinionated — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0400

The census data shows exactly what?

Re: State to intervene in Halifax schools

radioman — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:35:45 -0400

2000 Census Data Summary: Halifax County

Population, 2000 57,370
Population, percent change, 1990 to 2000 3.3%
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2000 6.2%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2000 26.2%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2000 14.9%
White persons, percent, 2000 (a) 42.6%
Black or African American persons, percent, 2000 (a) 52.6%

SAYS IT ALL !

Re: State to intervene in Halifax schools

CitizenOpinionated — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:52:11 -0400

Halifax County schools are corrupt and very poorly managed. Halifax County contains three school districts - Halifax County, Roanoke Rapids and Weldon - yet Marc Basnight proposed legislation to force all three to combine into one school district. Shame on him - shame on him - especially when he is planning to spend our money to fund a Bed and Breakfast in Hyde County - I think.

Re: State to intervene in Halifax schools

Sweetsie — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:02:46 -0400

If you think Halifax county schools are poorly run just wait to see who all is going to be staffing Federal Agencies in North Carolina and all over the country. Incompetence will rule and a lot of taxpayer dollars will be wasted and misappropriated but social goals will be met. In a democracy we deserve what we elect and you are going to get a big dose of reality very shortly.

Re: More-Smart merger alive in House

robdarich — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:34:53 -0400

Yes, they can be seen as baby-sitting; but they also serve to absorb classroom space to make schools seem just that much more crowded. Nothing soaks up a bleeding heart more than crowded schools; and if it weren't for smart-fhart, where would illegal alien and anchor children get their early medical treatment?

Not funding this is not an option! (did that sound like a politician?)

Jim Black almost put these deserving issues at the forefront with his "Everybody has to pay my business before they can enter kindergarten" program.

Jim Black is suffering severely for his deeds. TAKE THAT! Jim Black, no new cars for you and a moral victory for voters to cherish while Fibrowatt dances across NC in it's contorted perspective that spreading disease and stench is "Less filling" - or does it "Taste great" - I forget which it is, but I know that if Fibrowatt's saying it: "It's Greeeat!"

Re: More-Smart merger alive in House

tangoz — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:25:41 -0400

Aren't most of these state subsidized babysitting services?

Re: Budget picks sides in Atkinson-Perdue

alaskan1 — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:21:48 -0400

Let's everbody keep voting Democrat. Culture of Corruption--The Democrat Party. Getting screwed without being kissed--electing Democrats.

Re: Budget picks sides in Atkinson-Perdue

bnartist — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:09:30 -0400

Apparently passing a Budget is not so important to the Senate. Loading a budget bill up with non-budget legislation is a great way to keep the session going until Halloween. If they want to do this kind of thing & it's important enough they should run it in a separate bill instead of playing political trick or treat in the middle of a fiscal crisis.

Re: Budget picks sides in Atkinson-Perdue

tangoz — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:20:25 -0400

Just another abuse of the public trust by Rand and Basnight, have they no shame?

Re: Budget picks sides in Atkinson-Perdue

j1c2kp — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:33:46 -0400

That is the wonderful thing about politicians, if they don't like something well heck they just re-write....