Education Quotes for the Day

Retired educators have as much at stake in

the success of America's great public education

system as we did when we served in the classroom.

We've never wanted any child left behind.  And

it's important that the wisdom of our experience

and our advocacy for those with no voice should

be shared across our land.

In our mechanized society where thoughts as

well as automobiles may be assembled in an

automated factory, it is also, by some narrow

logic, expedient to reduce children to those

yes-no codes most easily processed by such a

system . . . .  When life becomes one giant data-

processing system, the winners are those with

the greatest aptitude for being data.

Judith Groch

Education is the biggest business in America.

It has the largest number of owners, the most

extensive and costly plant, and utilizes the most

valuable raw material.  It has the greatest number

of operators.  It employs our greatest investment

in money and time, with the exception of national

defense.  Its product has the greatest influence on

both America and the world.

R.S. Sligh, Jr.

NCRSP Winter and Spring Meetings

Here are the dates for our remaining meetings for this school year:

• February 2, 2012:  Local Meeting at MCS Board Room in Carthage at 10:00 a.m.
• March 21-22, 2012:  State Convention in Winston-Salem
• April 16, 2012:  District 8 Members' Annual Meeting  (9:30- Registration, 10-11:30 meeting)
• April 19, 2012  Our Spring Social/Short Meeting

Retired school personnel can play an important role as advocates for education.  We've been on the front lines for decades and the wisdom of our experience can offer guidance to today's leaders.  In this election year there will be many critical issues on the local, state, and national levels.  Don't be bashful about telling your friends, neighbors, and relatives "How it is."

Teachers Respond Quickly to Legislative Assault

Disclaimer:  The following viewpoint is that of the author, Ken Loyd, and is not intended to represent the varying views among the membership of either NCAE (North Carolina Association of Educators) or NCRSP (North Carolina Retired School Personnel).

If this headline seems inflammatory, it seems mild in comparison to the heavy-handed tactics North Carolina's legislative leaders pushed through earlier this week.  Leader Thom Tillis as much as admitted that the action to prohibit payroll deduction for professional educator dues was "to teach them a lesson," and that "it's just a taste of what's to come."

That's hardly the morale booster an embattled and highly stressed cadre of teachers and other educators need to spur them on to greater heights.  If this sort of intimidation and bullying is not meant to force teachers to keep their ideas to themselves, it may be even more sinister.  Those seeking to punish NCAE, PENC, and NCRSP include those who have pushed strongly for private school vouchers, unlimited charter schools, and across-the-board cuts for public schools.  The gains of three decades, during which North Carolina students have climbed from near the bottom of the nation to average or above, are in danger of being lost.  These gains have been in every area, from reduced dropout rate to nationally recognized gains on NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) and the greatest gains on SAT scores in the nation.

Click HERE to read an excellent summary of today's action by NCAE to challenge the legislative measure.  WRAL details many of the constitutional questions that must be considered.  One thing is certain: committed association members have other options for paying their dues.  But this should be a wakeup call to the vast numbers of non-members who have been asked for years, "Who is YOUR advocate in Raleigh?"  Never has that question been more pertinent nor the answer more frightening.  If your very employer-- the state legislature-- casts you as a villain; if the body that controls your salary, your retirement, and your health care sees you as an adversary, it is past time to take a stand.  For yourself, for your profession, and for the future of our great state.

MCRSP: Moore's Retired Educators

A Wealth of Experience and Wisdom in Retired Teacher Corps

The Moore County chapter of North Carolina Retired School Personnel met this week at the Moore County Schools Board Room.  I am proud to have been a member of this organization and its sister group NCAE since my retirement.  I am also a Life Member of the National Education Association.

As retired educators, we take pride in continuing our advocacy for children, families, teachers, and schools in Moore County and across North Carolina.  We wholeheartedly endorse such positive initiatives as the Growing to Greatness Goals shown below.  These were developed by our Board of Education under the guidance of Dr. Susan Purser, our superintendent.

As our members gathered for this fall meeting, I provided some keyboard music in the background.  There were refreshments to be enjoyed, many informational sheets to be passed out, and most of all, old friendships to be renewed.  Some in the room have been retired 25 years or more, meaning they have known each other as long as half a century!

Believe me, their compassion and concern for our public schools has not waned with the years out of the classroom.  We are as committed as ever to the mission of our schools in fostering the growth of happy, successful, and productive citizens.  Because that is the broad purpose of all public education, a worthy and noble purpose we all share a stake in.

Our president, Sandi Keyser, is as dedicated a leader as can be found.  She keeps us up-to-date and on our toes with her contagious enthusiasm.

Attendance was quite good this crisp fall morning.  We have many more members who can't get out much any more, but they are just as interested in what's going on in educational circles.

We were pleased and honored to have Dr. Susan Purser as our guest speaker this morning.  After a 41 year career in education, Dr. Purser will retire this December. 

She has lent her own wisdom in adding stability to our school system in very trying times.  She has not played "the blame game" with either our county commissioners or the state legislature.  While quietly, but urgently advocating for our many needs, she has managed our shrinking resources with skill. 

She spoke of many issues: budget concerns, our revamped transportation system, the smooth transition of our new year-round schools, and ongoing work for School Improvement Plans.  We presented her with a nice serving platter in appreciation of her dedicated service and support.

I won't bore all you non-educators out there with the nuts and bolts of the rest of our meeting.  But there were door prizes.

I'm thankful to have a hand in this organization of retired public servants who

KEEP ON CARING!