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Vote to help Maine’s students compete on the world stage

Maine should move decisively to join the nationwide movement prioritizing global education and the study of world languages in K-12 schools. These are key curricular areas that will prepare our young people – and our state –  to participate successfully in the economy of the future. Twenty-two states now offer a Seal of Biliteracy to […]

Will increased funding actually improve school performance?

Through the Stand Up for Schools ballot initiative, Maine has a chance on Election Day to help our less affluent school districts provide a quality education to their students. As the Picus Report, funded by our Legislature in 2013 to the tune of $450,000 found, Maine needs to “…increase funding for public schools by $260 […]

Major shortage of world language teachers hits Maine and the nation

Decades of neglect at the public school and college levels have now reaped the inevitable disastrous results: nationwide we have a major shortage of world language teachers, and advertised positions all over the country are going unfilled. This means that students who want to study languages, either out of intrinsic interest – or because they […]

How can we encourage teachers to stay in the profession?

Teachers are by and large an intensely devoted group of professionals. When the calendar turns to August we start focusing on curriculum planning and on ideas for improving our practice in the coming year. We read, we connect with colleagues locally, and we use technology to brainstorm with teachers all around the country, sometimes even […]

What is the truth about really boosting educational equity?

In November voters in Maine will have a chance to vote for passage of Question 2 – Stand Up for Students – an initiative that would help local school districts provide a strong, equitable education for all Maine students. Passage of the initiative would mean the Legislature would fund education in all districts in Maine […]

Mike Pence supports bill that threatens school lunch quality

Donald Trump’s Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence favors passage of a bill that would make it harder for poor children in the USA to receive school lunches and would allow all children in school to make nutritionally questionable decisions. The bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN), and known as the “Improving Child Nutrition […]

Maine’s opiate crisis is impacting our children

Maine has an opiate and heroin addiction crisis, and it’s impacting our children. Some of them are born addicted; others suffer the results of living with parents who are addicted. As a teacher I am trained to help children develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally. My fellow teachers and I work hard and try to do […]