Governor Jim Hunt spent years persuading the North Carolina legislature to reduce class size.
Now he is out of office, and the radicals in the legislature want to abolish all limits on class size, allegedly in the interest of “flexibility.”
It is certainly not in the interest of improving education or helping kids. The research showing the benefits of small classes in the early grades, especially for the neediest children, is powerful.
North Carolina is ready to throw the neediest children under the bus.
Governor Hunt, where are you?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Flexibility is code word for “We are going to rip you off.” The devil is in the details and the details are always the same “We are going to rip you off.” This allows them to inter-fund transfer money from catagorical accounts to anywhere they want through “Flexibility.” For instance, let’s take RTI. I was asked by a disabilities group to analyze the RTI law which was in a large part written and promoted nationwide by Judy Elliot recently formally from LAUSD after she wrote and promoted RTI. Why do you think she was sent to LAUSD? I discovered, and I have a tutorial on this on You Tube, that you can legally inter-fund transfer into the general fund up to about 60% of the catagorical special ed funding into the general fund by simply not identifying. Not only that they law allows for keeping minimal records. Isn’t that cute? All under the guise of “Flexibility.” A lot of schemers were not happy with this. When I spent an hour with one of the top researchers in the world on special ed at the end he said “George, I agree with everything you have said but there is one thing. We did not think about the money.” I didn’t say anything but thought “Are you insane, how can you not think about the money from your position. No money, no programme.” Is it any wonder things are a mess. It is my belief that the real problem not just in education is that too many so-called experts will not tell the “Whole Truth” as it is the end of their careers. If your benefactors, those who supply the money, do not like what you are doing, no more money and you are finished. Ask yourself this “Who is really independent and who supplies their funding?” Follow the money always.
I just finished working on a song with 4th graders that Hunt commissioned for the state’s birthday in 1983. “North Carolina is my home” by Loonis McGlohan.
Governor Gray Davis from California also pushed legislation through that gave money to districts who reduced class sizes in K-3rd to 20 per class. Sadly Gray Davis was recalled for the Terminator. I wanted to make sure about the grades so I read a little about some of his legislations and Californians were idiots for recalling him. He did some wonderful stuff. I can proudly say I did not vote for the recall.
Bought off? Sold out? “Compromised”?
Does anyone know where Jim Hunt is, and explain his silence?
Hunt certainly didn’t lack for political courage or clarity when he ran against the execrable Jesse Helms.
We need you NOW, Governor Hunt! Where are you?
I live in Durham, North Carolina and I will say this: First, Governor Hunt announced in December that he was retiring – a long earned break. Second, as for Puget Sound Parent’s ridiculous comments alleging “bought off” or “sold out”, my answer is NEVER. I know the man personally and there is NO more honorable politician in our state. He embodies decency, intelligence and professionalism. He truly cares about our state and our children. Third, the question Diane should be asking is: where are the others like Jim Hunt? People voted for these bozos in Raleigh, so they should be prepared for the consequences of their votes. We shouldn’t be putting the burden on Jim Hunt to come to our rescue. It’s not his job to clean up our messes.
Diane,
Please notice that I put a question mark after each one of phrases above. Perhaps I should have taken greater care to emphasize that I really didn’t have any idea where Jim Hunt is these days and what he’s doing.
I do not assume any bad motives on the part of Governor Hunt. But often, people such as retired prominent politicians in other states HAVE “sold out” or at least agreed to “remain silent” for whatever reasons. I was speculating due to my lack of knowledge.
However, issuing a clear and concise statement on a critical state issue—the education of our children and the maximum class size for effective learning—doesn’t require more than a few minutes.
If anything, I assume good things from Governor Hunt. Not bad. That’s why is silence is both surprising and disappointing, for whatever reasons.
In Washington State, my home, two former respected governors, the recently deceased Booth Gardner and the still very active Dan Evans, were both quite willing and able to comment publicly on key issues that had a major impact on our state, long after they departed the governor’s mansion.
Both Gardner and Evans—the latter is still a frequent, and often cogent, commentator on many issues—understood that a respected ex-governor still has a very important role to play in influencing public opinion and the actions of the state legislature.
On such signature issues as education—where Jim Hunt did so many good things—it would be of such tremendous value to have his voice. It can be as simple as issuing a public statement to the effect of “As a former governor who fought hard to reduce class size and recognizing the clear benefit to our children of a better student-teacher ratio, I urge the current members of our legislature and our governor, to reject any legislation that would allow our gains in this crucial area to be rolled back.”
If you are a friend or associate of Governor Hunt, I ask you to approach him with this idea in mind.
By doing so it will CREATE “others like Jim Hunt”. People—and politicians—are inspired by the examples around them. When one person stands up courageously it inspires others to do the same.
Diane, I second your admiration for Governor Hunt. I served on his board and know his passion for education and his integrity. As a senior statesman, he could ride to the rescue. His voice is greatly respected in NC.
Thank you Puget Sound Parent for clarifying your comments. I’m certain he knows how much he’s needed in our state and I suppose if he feels it’s right he will speak up. I think we have to trust him on this one. I saw him briefly recently and told him how much we needed him back and I’m sure he hears it frequently. (I should say I know him, but don’t know him extremely well.) We could certainly use him as governor again. These people are going to ruin our state.
Jim Hunt was a good man. He was the governor when I moved to Charlotte and began my teaching career. Democrats had a stronghold on the state (especially from Raleigh to the low country) for a century. The Republicans took advantage of several well-publicized scandals involving Dems Mike Easley and Jim Black. Although John Edwards was a US Senator in Washington, his ties to NC didn’t help Democrats in the state.
Unfortunately, the state has been taken over by the ALEC-inspired Teapublicans. I thought McCrory would keep them under control since he was a moderate Republican as a big city mayor, but he has no veto power.