Special to Iredell Free News
RALEIGH — In a special address Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper declared that public education in North Carolina is facing a state of emergency.
Cooper outlined extreme legislation in the N.C. General Assembly that would cripple the state’s public education system and urged North Carolinians to contact their legislators.
“It’s clear that the Republican legislature is aiming to choke the life out of public education,” the governor said. “I’m declaring this a state of emergency because you need to know what’s happening. If you care about public schools in North Carolina, it’s time to take immediate action and tell them to stop the damage that will set back our schools for a generation.”
In recent weeks, Republicans have pushed a series of sweeping legislation that would cause public schools to lose hundreds of millions of dollars, exacerbate the state’s teacher shortage and bring political culture wars into the classrooms, Cooper argued.
School Vouchers
Legislative Republicans propose pouring billions of dollars in taxpayer money into private schools that are unaccountable to the public and can decide which students they want to admit. Their plan would expand private school vouchers so anyone – even a millionaire – can get taxpayer money for their children’s private school tuition.
By expanding voucher eligibility to any K-12 student, public schools, especially schools in rural and poorer counties, will face steep funding cuts, leaving schools without the resources to maintain fixed costs and support students, the governor said.
Teacher Shortage
North Carolina schools currently have more than 5,000 teacher vacancies. Recruiting and retaining quality teachers to the classroom is harder than ever and low pay is a big reason why.
Cooper’s budget proposed an 18 percent pay raise over two years. Last week Senate Republicans proposed increasing veteran teachers’ salaries by just $250 spread over two years. This will cause North Carolina to continue to push teachers out of our classrooms and leaving public school students without instruction, the governor said. In addition, legislators are proposing an acceleration of tax cuts that are projected to cut North Carolina’s state budget by almost 20 percent —hamstringing the ability to fund public education now and in the future.
Culture Wars
According to Cooper, Republican leaders want to inject their political culture wars into classrooms across North Carolina with bills that would put politicians in charge of curriculum setting, micromanage what teachers can teach, and target LGBTQ+ students.
Prominent Republicans have proposed eliminating core science classes and are pushing to rewrite history curriculums, the governor said. Students need an education that prepares them for the workforce and success. North Carolina’s families, businesses and economy depend on it. Putting politicians in charge of the classroom is dangerous, Cooper said.
The governor will travel across the state this week to meet with business leaders, educators and parents to raise awareness about the dangers of the bills in the N.C. General Assembly and ask them to demand better and join the fight to protect public education in North Carolina.
LEARN MORE
♦ Watch the Governor’s address.
♦ Read the Governor’s full remarks.
♦ Learn more about North Carolina’s public education emergency.
Using our taxpayer dollars to fund Christian schools here is the ultimate goal of the right. How is this even happening? Does the Constitution not mean one thing to these people?
Vote BLUE NO Matter WHO!
Options for families are the ultimate goal. Underperforming schools that pass kids from grade to grade have failed many. That’s the real school to jail pipeline. Stop with the bipartisan crap. Iredell Democrats are quick to jump on the $12 million that’ll be lost. It’s the control you clearly want. Money, control, and no one that can think for themselves! It’s easier to control uneducated people. Parents, taxpayers, and voters can decide for themselves. Stop the propaganda already.
I agree with Bill Johnson. Politics should have nothing to do with school boards. But of course Roy Cooper had to blame the Republicans. Well I’m a Republican but I do not agree with supporting other schools. Some have have a choice. Many don’t. Private schools and charter schools are designed for a better education. Let the parents pay. Public schools have the majority of all children because their parents cannot afford privare school. Public teachers struggle using their salary to meet the needs of the children. I’ve volunteered and I’ve seen it. I also thank and praise churches and companies who support our schools and PTOs who raise money. There is so much wrong in our world and our schools. When voting we should vote for the best person. The one who knows he was elected for the people by the people.
Public (aka GOVERNMENT) schools have been slowly producing ill informed students for at least 20 years. They are beholden to the federal bureaucracy for federal dollars and will teach whatever the government wants them to. This is a major reason we have so many younger citizens who are totally ignorant about our countries history — good and bad.
Nowhere in the Constitution does it state the federal government should even be involved. Every state has a department of education and there is no need for a $80 BILLION DOE at the federal level.