NC Gov Roy Cooper declares State of Emergency regarding the attack on public education. Public education is part of what has made this country great and provided what little opportunity their is for success from poverty circles. Republicans want to undo the community responsibility to educate all children for the betterment of the nation. Instead they are opting to fund wealthy families private schools and niche religious instruction in a playbook being followed all over the south. We should be investing more in education, not less, especially in the ignorant south. ‘Stop the damage’: Gov. Cooper declares state of emergency for NC public education A Devastating School Voucher Scheme 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, our 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. A Worsening 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. Governor Cooper’s budget proposed an 18% pay raise over two years. But last week Senate Republicans proposed increasing veteran teachers’ salaries by just $250 spread over two years. This will cause North Carolina to continue to fall behind, pushing teachers out of our classrooms and leaving public school students without instruction. 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. Injecting Culture Wars into the Classroom 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. Already, prominent Republicans have proposed eliminating core science classes and are pushing to rewrite history curriculums to fit a political agenda. 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.
Its not about where people send their kids to school its about whether the state funds it. I make a good living, so do I need to be subsidized to send my kid to private school taking money away from the public system that educates all kids? They already have shoe string budgets. It is the essence of public education to have a funded public education system. Plus the culture war on schools by the GOP is a crime.
I feel like North Carolina is the last bastion of intelligence in the ignorant, Confederate south, and we are just about to fall.
It has always been the goal to destroy public education. The very concept of a “public” secular institution is anathema to their worldview
Roy himself went to public school and public university at UNC. His wife went to public schools and OU for college. All three of their daughters are UNC grads.
What’s funny is this war has been going on ever since Brown vs Board if Education, and the Civil Rights Act. This voucher scheme leads parents to believe their child will be getting a prep school education only to find out the school is in an old strip mall in a seedy neighborhood, or in a church basement taught by someone who may or may not be qualified. Meanwhile those with enough money to send their kids to a private prep school want to be included by having their child’s prep school tuition paid for by the taxpayers.
Didn't you say that your own son was behind his peers in some areas because your private school didn't/couldn't offer the same classes that public schools could?
He sent some of his younger girls to St Mary's all girls privates school... not subsidized by the state however, and it took no money away from the school district he pays taxes in.
Republicans have a supermajority in NC now. So Cooper has to go to them hat in hand while pitching temper tantrums for media consumption.
Illegally gerrymandered supermajority in a state that went for Trump by 70,000 votes in a state of 10 million. Over 300,000 people will move to NC this year and over a million will between the elections. Demographics are really bad for the republicans which is why they are all out on overreach. It will be short lived. In a decade no one will remember the republican party in NC.
Subsidizing things you don’t like is the same argument people use in medical where abortion coverage and transition procedures are paid by all. That argument is no different. Hobby Lobby is a prime example. Interesting how it’s ok to force people to pay for things they don’t agree with when it fits an agenda or belief. I’m not taking sides as I think everyone has different ideas and opinions that I don’t agree with and some I do. What’s sad is we have drawn lines in the sand on many issues and both sides refuse to budge. If a state, county, or municipality doesn’t like what’s happening then vote the reps out. Bitching and moaning about it does nothing.
Starting to see a GOP pattern City? 1) Put a "strawman - strongman" in office - Trump. 2) Appoint two radical right Supreme Court Justices 3) Get rid of Roe 4) Turn back LGBTQ rights / in fact start state sponsered discrimination and terrrorism against that community. 5) GOP sponsered "stop them from voting" laws. 6) Militarize the Police, recruit Christian / White Nationalist extremists to enforce the "law". 7) Deligitimize elections when the results are "against party". 8) Book burning, white washing history. 9) Oh, I failed to mention a vicious and seditious attempt to overthrow the constitution and Democracy on Jan 6th. 10) Supreme Court Justices on the take. Talking about you Clarence! Welcome to todays GOP (All the finest people).
I feel like Cooper is pandering like he always does. I agree millionaires dont need vouchers, so put a cap on it, but the voucher system itself isn't the demon that the liberals in government paint it as. There is a common sense way to do it and neither side seems interested in that common ground
I appreciate the thoughtful response. However, in this case, the will of the people are usurped by illegally drawn gerrymandering which makes a 49/51 population a super majority. It goes against the NC constitution upheld by the courts until an appointment to the Supreme Court based on those illegally drawn lines was reversed before the court remedy was in place. It’s highway robbery.
One side wants to attack public education, the other doesn't. Therefore, neither side seems interested in common ground? I guess the Governor should let the Republicans in NC to attack public education "just a little", right?