Commentaries by Mark Uncapher
Maryland’s Teachers Union COVID-19 Demands Will Increase Educational Inequality
Maryland’s teachers’ unions presented their demands earlier in July for using distance learning exclusively during at least the first half of the 2020-21 school year.[i] Within a matter of days afterward, districts, such as Montgomery County’s school system, responded and reversed their tentative reopening plans. They opted instead for an all virtual, online fall semester. This…
Read More
Teachers Union Demands “Homeschooling Lite” for Maryland’s New School Year
TEACHERS UNION DEMANDS “HOMESCHOOLING LITE” FOR MARYLAND’S NEW SCHOOL YEAR Earlier this past week, Maryland’s teacher’s unions weighed in with their demands that distance learning be used for at least the first half of the 2020-21 school year. [i] In contrast, a survey of parents by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) found 42% expected…
Read More
TIME FOR MARYLAND TO EMBRACE ONLINE EDUCATION
Maryland’s schools are scheduled to open in a matter of weeks for the 2020-21 school year. Yet many school districts still are unable to share their plans for educating in the COVID-19 world. While the Maryland State Department of Education has released an updated Maryland’s Recovery Plan for Education, individual school districts can take as long…
Read More
Top Elrich Official’s Book Deal with Contractor Violates Ethics Rules
TOP ELRICH OFFICIAL’S BOOK DEAL WITH CONTRACTOR VIOLATES ETHICS RULES Ex-Baltimore Budget Director Supplemented his $280,000 Montgomery County Job with a Book Deal with a County Contractor Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich’s $280,000 “Chief Administrative Officer” Andrew Kleine has been found guilty of ethics violations. The County’s Ethics Commission reached this conclusion after reviewing payments…
Read More
Sunlight Needed for Police Misconduct Cases
Sunlight Needed for Police Misconduct Cases Maryland law shields misconduct findings The Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee on George Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes until Floyd died had 18 previous complaints filed against him, according to media reports.[i] State laws and public employee labor agreements far too often prevent details about misbehaving government workers…
Read More
TIME FOR MARYLAND TO EMBRACE ONLINE EDUCATION
TIME FOR MARYLAND TO EMBRACE ONLINE EDUCATION As the state’s schools plan to reopen, Maryland should stop being a hold-out, and give parents and their children the option to use tuition-free online education from charter providers Maryland’s schools are scheduled to open in a matter of weeks for the 2020-21 school year. Yet many school…
Read More