Larry Lee

News

In Beason’s Time Machine Set for 1999

Education Matters By Larry Lee In the 1985 movie classic, Back to the Future, Marty McFly was inadvertently sent back in time by Doc Brown’s time machine. It now appears that State Senator Scott Beason has his own time machine and is hoping to send Alabama public school students and teachers back to 1999. Beason … Continued

Larry Lee

February 24, 2014

Opinion

Education Matters: What Is All The “Common Core” Talk About?

Education Matters By Larry Lee Pardon me while I scratch my head, but I’m still confused as to what all the “common core” talk is about. And if the truth be known I suspect the vast majority of Alabamians don’t know common core from apple core. Still, this doesn’t stop the mention of it from … Continued

Larry Lee

January 28, 2014

Opinion

Christmas came down a dirt road in Clarke County

Education Matters By Larry Lee Don’t you believe them. Not for even one minute. You know, those folks on TV cable news sitting there in their makeup and slicked down hair telling us how terrible the world is. Those faceless voices on talk radio that rant and rave that no one in this country gives … Continued

Larry Lee

December 18, 2013

Opinion

Review: Reign of Error, the Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools by Diane Ravitch

By Larry Lee Education Matters As I turned the pages of Reign of Error, the Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools by Diane Ravitch, I kept having a mental image of an editorial cartoon showing two groups staring across a deep crevasse at one another. On one side stand … Continued

Larry Lee

October 28, 2013

Walker County Rainy Day Patriots Announce TV Show

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Wednesday, the Walker County Delegation of the Rainy Day Patriots (RDP) announced that they were taking their message directly into the homes of the people of Alabama with their own television show which will air weekly on the the Alabama News Network. The Chairman of the Walker County … Continued

Brandon Moseley

October 18, 2013

Opinion

Education Matters

Education Matters By Larry Lee It was 10:30 on Friday morning when I wheeled into the parking lot at Hubbertville School. Just down the hill a white-haired man was running a red riding mower across the football field, where later that day the school and community would celebrate homecoming. I walked down and he came … Continued

Larry Lee

October 9, 2013

Opinion

Education Matters

By Larry Lee Education Matters It was billed as a “Teacher Town Hall” and since teachers are usually the forgotten voices in any discussion about education, I headed to Birmingham on a recent Thursday night to look and listen. The event was put together by StudentsFirst, a national organization operated by Michelle Rhee, one-time chancellor … Continued

Larry Lee

September 23, 2013

Opinion

Education Matters

By Larry Lee Education Matters To say that educators everywhere are gun shy these days is an understatement. Chicago is closing more than 50 schools, actions of the North Carolina governor and legislature against education have prompted demonstrations at the state capitol, the Philadelphia school system is on the verge of bankruptcy, the mayor of … Continued

Larry Lee

August 26, 2013

Opinion

Education Matters

Education Matters By Larry Lee The Alabama Accountability Act requires the state department of education to identify “failing” schools. After several false starts, the list is now public and includes 78 schools, 72 of which ranked in the bottom six percent of all schools in three of the last six years. The other six came … Continued

Larry Lee

July 15, 2013

Opinion

Education Matters

Education Matters By Larry Lee Sometimes you come across courage in the darnest places. I certainly did not expect to find it on a recent June afternoon in a sparse and ancient mobile home down a dirt road in southwest Alabama. It’s my great pleasure to chair the state advisory board for HIPPY (Home Instruction … Continued

Larry Lee

July 1, 2013