Post-election season commentaries in the media made much mention of a Republican “storm” or “hurricane” in Ohio as well as on the federal level. But this was not the storm; nor was it the hurricane. My friends, the perfect storm is on the radar. It is bearing down on us and will arrive in January. [...] Continue reading → As a high school social studies teacher, I walk the line with my senior students each year. It’s tough. The year-long course I teach is required by my district, and it’s all about Government. Every year, I am met with the same question from my students during election season. “Mr. Hayes, who are you going [...] Continue reading → There is a lot at stake in the upcoming elections on November 2. Many Ohio school districts brace for more budget cuts if their levies fail at the polls. You might wonder: Why do school districts rely on property taxes to foot the bill for education, especially when the DeRolf decisions have ruled this method [...] Continue reading → Do you know who will receive your vote on November 2nd? Do you know the issues? Do you believe that things need to change? Before you head to the polls, it is important to know that changing governors at this time will not be in the best interest of Ohio’s public schools. Check out OEA’s [...] Continue reading → Dear America: The release of a recent movie about education has inspired me to write you a letter. First, know that I am a teacher, like my paternal grandfather and great-grandfather were before me. Education is imprinted in my genes. Teaching is not what I do; it is who I am. I have taught for [...] Continue reading → Two recently published reports, Graduation by the Numbers: Putting Data to Work for Student Success, Diplomas Count, 2010 Edition, and Yes We Can: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males, 2010, should be read by everyone working in education and every parent of school age children. The first, published by Education [...] Continue reading → Recently, the LA Times ran a series of reports on the Los Angeles Unified School District and how effective its third through fifth grade teachers have been in improving students test scores over a period of 7 years, from 2002-03 through 2008-09, using an evaluation method called “value-added.” In a nutshell, the value added approach [...] Continue reading → As a former elected official of my local city government, I can tell you that there is nothing more important than voting in the upcoming elections. We are all at the mercy of our politicians who, more often than not, work full time at other jobs, and do not have the time, or expertise, to [...] Continue reading → I’ve been actively involved in my union now for almost a decade. My colleagues often ask me why. The response I give them is simple. “As teachers, we are always the first to be asked for help by others,” I say. “Yet as professionals, we are the last to ask for help for ourselves. Our [...] Continue reading → In less than two months, voters will have the opportunity to voice their opinions at the polls. I will publicly admit, if it is not a presidential election or a local school-levy issue, I am not interested. I have never been into politics. Conversations about politics make me squirm. I have so much going on [...] Continue reading → 