Sunday, May 4. “The State of Public Schools in NC: Legislative Update”. The last legislative session and its Appropriations Act of 2013 yielded sweeping changes to public education in NC such as implementing a voucher program, eliminating masters pay and career status for educators, and creating a contract system of employment. Come and learn about the impact of these changes from Patty Williams, Communications Director with Public Schools First NC, and Jessica Holmes, Staff Attorney with NC Association of Educators (NCAE).
Sunday, May 11. Eric Juth will show his film “Ghosts of Johnston County” which explores the links between a rural county in North Carolina and the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program. Organized by Mike Soboeiro.Sunday, May 18. “The State of Wake County Public Schools”. Patty Williams from Public Schools First NCand Jessica Holmes from NC Association of Educators (NCAE) will bring the impact of the Appropriations Act of 2013 home to the Wake County Public School System. They will describe the unique challenges we face going into the 2014-2015 school year.
Sunday, May 25. Cancelled The NBC special “Our Year ofExtremes: Did Climate Change Just Hit Home?" with Ann Curry will be shown by Gary Smith, who will then host an audience discussion. The show is excellent. It gives the viewer some things to get ahold of to show that the climate is changing and what that means for humans. It also includes very nice interviews with some lucid atmospheric scientists who explain what they are seeing in ways that we can all understand it. The show is well worth your 45 minutes. We hope you can make it. If not, you can also see it at this link http://www.nbcnews.com/anncurry
This will be the end of Forum until the fall unless there is a reason to organize additional meetings, for instance in connection with Moral Mondays and the short session of the Legislature. If anyone wants to organize meetings at Forum time over the summer, please let your wishes be known.