Guilford County Schools endorses "walk in" for education

Guilford County Schools announced its support this afternoon for a "Walk-In Day" on Monday to support "teachers and other school-based staff." The press release called on county school employees and their supporters to wear red in support of public education. 

Statewide actions are planned for Monday protesting "the damage done to our public schools during the 2013 session of the North Carolina General Assembly," according to education group Organize 2020. Here's more from the release (emphasis not mine):

Over the past few years, teachers have faced cuts in the classroom, legislative changes that impact teaching and learning, and salaries that are among the lowest in the country:

On average, North Carolina teachers make far less than their counterparts in other states. Currently, North Carolina teacher pay ranks 46^th in the United States, down five spots from the year before, when North Carolina teacher pay ranked 41^st. In addition, our schools have lost more than $42 million in state funding in the last five years.

As many media outlets have reported, some groups are encouraging teachers across North Carolina to stage a statewide walkout on Monday, Nov. 4. In GCS, we know our teachers will instead be working in their classrooms, putting children first.

That’s why GCS is holding Walk-In Day on that date. We are encouraging all our employees, students, parents, business and community partners and others across Guilford County to wear RED in support of public ed and visit any of our 126 schools before 10 a.m. Bring a thank-you note, a letter of support or a sign – just to show our teachers we appreciate their hard work.

A different Republican take on Moral Monday: Rep. Jon Hardister

Rep. Jon Hardister (courtesy photo)

Not all Republicans in the NC General Assembly look down their noses at Moral Monday protesters and resort to calling them names: Take a look at Greensboro's Rep. Jon Hardister.

We interviewed Hardister, a first-term Guilford County representative, for our recent article about Moral Monday demonstrations at the legislature, but didn't have space to run his responses.

While he said he probably doesn't agree with the Moral Mondays protesters, Hardister said he's "glad they're doing it" because "it's good to see people engaged."

"You take them seriously," Hardister said. "When people take the time out of their day to come to the General Assembly to protest you definitely want to take it seriously and listen to what they have to say. Anytime I see protesters I always think about. It challenges you to think about what you’re doing."

Protests force legislators to pause and explain their actions, which is important, he said. Hardister said he ultimately makes his decisions by analyzing issues, talking to people on both sides of the debate and doing research: Like with voter ID — one of the key issues propeling the Moral Monday actions. Hardister said he considered the issue carefully but added that polls showed that most North Carolinians support voter ID, as do many of his constituents.

Hardister, who's only 30 and is the vice president of First Carolina Mortgage, is a strong advocate of charter schools, which comes as no surprise to anyone who followed his election campaign last year; he touted "a platform of supporting school choice and strengthening charter schools." Hardister served on the board of Greensboro Academy, a charter school, before he was elected.

Since taking office he's been the lead sponsor on seven bills, two of which are about charter schools, though his involvement in charter-related legislation doesn't end there. Hardister also supported the creation of a new board to govern charter schools that would still be under the education department, interest-free loans as start-up funds for charters and an act to make public charter schools eligible for permanent registration license plates.

"My philosophy on charter schools is that they are an important part of our public school system," Hardister said, adding that they are meant to supplement and not replace traditional public schools. "The idea is for the funding to follow the student. It’s just a way to provide more opportunity for children and more choice for parents."

Hardister said two bills he sponsored focusing on charters, HB 250 and HB 273, would give them some more flexibility in conducting enrollment, require funds allocated for charter schools to be transferred in a more timely fashion and more clearly articulate charters' ability to borrow money for operational expenses like electricity, running water and maintenance.

Hardister's bills are partially informed  by his contacts — he has stayed in touch with charters in his district and worked closely with two charter school lobbying organizations, he said. He tries to stay in touch with what a broader base of constiuents want too, he said. 

"You have to do your research and follow your instincts," Hardister said. "Education is a sensitive topic and we all agree it's important. We all want what's best but unfortunately we don't always agree on how to get there."

The desire to make things better transcends political parties, he said, which is why it's important to treat everyone — protestors and politicians alike— with respect and assume they are sincerely tying to do what they believe is best. The only times politics is disheartening, Hardister added, is when people dismiss someone by saying they don't truly care.

Bennett College offering free Arabic classes to public

Bennett College has announced it will offer free Arabic classes on Mondays and Wednesdays this semester that are open to the general public. "Arabic I" will meet from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and "Black Perspectives on Islamic History" is offered from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Below is part of a press release from the school:

"Interested participants are encouraged to seek more information by Friday, January 11, 2013. Please contact the Bennett College Center for Global Studies by calling Dr. Gwendolyn Bookman at 336.517.2106 or gbookman@bennett.edu. 

The classes run from Monday, January 7, 2013 through Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Participants do not have to be enrolled students of the College. 

The course is taught by Project Director Maurice Hines. Receiving his undergraduate from UNCG, he later completed his graduate studies in the Sudan. Hines is an experienced instructor who specializes in teaching for non-Arabic speaking students. 

This initiative is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education in an effort to strengthen international studies and foreign language instruction. Bennett College was awarded $64, 044 last September." 

Incumbent Paul Daniels withdraws from School Board race

Guilford County School Board member Paul Daniels sent YES! Weekly the following message this afternoon to announce his withdrawal from the upcoming election race:

"I have decided, after much prayer and contemplation and many conversations to withdraw from the race for BOE District 5.  I am very thankful for the opportunity the wonderful people of Guilford County have given me to serve our students, teachers and others, but it is time for me to move on.  I have a very busy law practice, a family and many more mountains to climb.  I wish the best to Linda Welborn and the other members of the board who work so hard to improve education in Guilford County."