Bad news from North Carolina.
Contact: Yevonne Brannon/Patty Williams
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tel: 919-244-6243/919-696-8059
Email: info@publicschoolsfirstnc.org
NC SUPREME COURT DEALS STUNNING BLOW TO PUBLIC EDUCATION
More children placed at risk by decision
Raleigh, NC—July 23, 2015— Public Schools First NC is disheartened by the NC Supreme Court ruling that will transfer tens of millions of desperately needed public education dollars to fund unaccountable private schools.
“Today is a very sad day in the history of our state,” said Yevonne Brannon, Chair, Public Schools First NC. “Our long-standing tradition of commitment to excellence in public education has made North Carolina a jewel among southern states. We cannot fathom how this decision upholds the constitutional promise that all children receive a sound, basic education within the public school system. And we are deeply concerned as strong public schools are critical for growing our economy and maintaining the vitality of our communities.”
Where voucher programs have been implemented, there is no evidence that they offer high- quality educational alternatives to children from low-income families. In Indiana, the number of vouchers awarded has grown exponentially; according to an education leader in that state, the program “now benefits middle class families who always intended to send their children to private (mostly religious) schools and taxpayers are footing the growing bill.” Today,
Indiana taxpayers pay an estimated $116 million to send 29,000 students to private/religious schools.
Public Schools First NC questions the “public purpose” of the school voucher program, when there are clear solutions—ranging from fully-funding pre-K programs, adequately funding
classroom supplies, and offering programs and compensation that encourage recruitment, preparation, support and retention of professional, experienced educators—to improve public education. Since 2008-09, funding for education essentials, including (textbooks,
transportation, teacher assistants, teachers, etc.) has been reduced by over $1 billion.
“How can sending at-risk children to schools where accreditation is not necessary, where teachers do not need a high school diploma, and where adherence to academic standards is not required be a worthy educational alternative,” noted Brannon. “All children lose when public schools are further depleted of their funds, and those funds are then used for unworthy ends.”
About Public Schools First NC:
Public Schools First NC (PSFNC) is a statewide, nonpartisan organization focused solely on public education issues. We collaborate with teachers, parents, business and civic leaders, students and communities across North Carolina in support of an effective public education system that will prepare each child for life. To learn more or to join our organization, please visit: publicschoolsfirstnc.org. Follow us on Twitter: @PS1NC. Read our 2015 legislative priorities.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
This goes right along with everything else NC has been doing to public education in the past few years. Teachers have left there in droves and now they have created the perfect situation to allow private schools to further destroy the teaching profession and education for all students. A few parents will appreciate the subsidy to their private school tuition but the overwhelming majority will not be able to use voucher money since it won’t cover full tuition. Everyone else is left with defunded public schools. A sad day, indeed.
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They should change the name of the state from North Carolina to North Florida.
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I don’t get it.
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We also still have no budget passed in NC which leaves the possibility of laying off 8500 teacher assistants hanging in the air. The budget committee, who meets in closed session, is comprised of 32 Republicans and 0 Dems. Local school districts are having to plan for the start of the year (less than 4 weeks away) without knowing whether the layoff will happen.
If it is intenotional, the only up side would be that it frustrate voters enough to see this effort to cripple our public schools.
I absolutely cannot understand it. Yes I am white and I am a preacher’s daughter who grew up in NC (ancestors here since 18th century) and I cannot understand this style of leadership. I cannot believe that there would have been any payback for previous decades in our state that would warrant this.
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From the NC Constitution:
“Sec. 13. Religious liberty.
All persons have a natural and inalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences, and no human authority shall, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience.
Sec. 15. Education.
The people have a right to the privilege of education, and it is the duty of the State to guard and maintain that right.
Sec. 8. Disqualifications for office.
The following persons shall be disqualified for office:
First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.”
Section 1. Education encouraged.
Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools, libraries, and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.
Sec. 2. Uniform system of schools.
(1) General and uniform system: term. The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools, which shall be maintained at least nine months in every year, and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students.”
Unfortunately the constitution says nothing about government monies being prohibited for use by religious institutions like most of the states’ constitution.
And I would be disqualified under Sec 8 from holding any elective office. Screw NC!! They’ll deserve what they get with funding religious schools with unqualified personnel–see Iran and Saudi Arabia to see what the mixing of religion and government results in. Won’t be any different in NC eventually.
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I think that the Republicans behind closed doors trying to come up with a budget realize they can’t because they have given so many tax breaks to large revenue sources. They save $1200 per pupil who receives a voucher. The public school loses $5400 per pupil but they only give $4200 for the voucher.
So I wonder were they waiting for this decision so that they can move forward with a budget that will work without them having egg on their face, and keeping big campaign donors, like Duke Energy, happy with their tax cuts.
It’s politics. They aren’t thinking about the Constitution, I don’t think. So then I wonder about our Supreme Court. But I guess Supreme Courts are susceptible to politics too.
So, I guess you aren’t coming to NC in April?
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NC Supreme court has opened a door for religious schooling to take many forms. See for example the Ashville based http://www.oldenwilde.org/#about_oldenwilde
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The constitutions of seven states are written to prohibit atheists from holding office and in some states from serving as a witness in a court.
Arkansas, No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court. Article 19, Section 1.
Maryland, That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution. Article 37,
Mississippi, No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state. Article 14, Section 265.
North Carolina, The following persons shall be disqualified for office: Any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God. Article 6, Section 8.
South Carolina, No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution. Article 17 Section 4.
Tennessee. No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state. Article 9, Section 2.
Texas, No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being. Article 1, Section 4.
From http://americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2012-05-unelectable-atheists-us-states-that-prohibit-godless
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we actually had one of our city council members in Asheville challenge the one about “denying the being of Almighty God.”
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Get ready for the Catholic schools to begin closing as they take vouchers. This IS happening in Louisiana now. The closed schools have begun turning into charters in Baton Rouge. How’s that “choice” for you?
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Private schools are no match for charters.
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bad news indeed; reducing funds for the public schools combined with giving public tax dollars to private schools continues as an effective way to weaken our public education system
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I have mixed feelings. If public schools are forced to do all this testing, then it may be better for those who can afford it to send their kids (with a voucher) to an excellent private school with a balanced curriculum. Why should parents be forced to pay into a system they no longer believe in. Who wants to send their kids to public school with all this testing, gigantic classes, unruly students, political correctness, etc.? Public schools can’t really discipline like they used to in the past. Other parents could homeschool and save the money for college. If I had the choice between a public school with common core or a Day school or Catholic school with a balanced curriculum (arts, drama, etc.), I would take the money and run. You can just tell your kid to ignore the religious (superstitious) instruction. My community has many excellent private schools. Why should parents have to pay for what is now a horrible public school and then pay another 10 thousand for a private school? That doesn’t seem very fair either. I would have agreed with you 30 years ago, but we all know that public schools are being decimated by crazy legislation.
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The amount of the voucher is not enough to pay for a good school. Home schooling is not a terrific option is the parent is not a high school graduate. But all of this is part of the nut-rightwing effort to destroy public schools. Not good for America.
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The Dems are just as responsible for destroying public education as the Repubs and until you guys begin to fully acknowledge that nothing will ever change. This administration has done more damage to public schools to make any Republican jealous.
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Diane didn’t say Republican. She said right-wing. The two are not synonymous. Yes, many Dems are implicated in education rephorm – the right-wing ones.
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The Real One. . .at the Federal level, you are right about the Democrats. But at the state level, aside from the ones who were sort of left having to take us down the Race to the Top road, the Democrats have looked after public education much better than Republicans. But you are right. The ship is taking water from both sides. No question. I think most regulars on this blog acknowledge that.
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Vouchers are part of the crazy legislation decimating public schools.
Many parents in my area send their children to excellent private schools. The majority of these schools do not accept vouchers (Of course this could change as they ease up on income restrictions)
Here is a list of the schools in NC accepting the scholarship.
Click to access NPSwithoutCode.pdf
Some of the schools listed use the Abeka curriculum so it would be hard to ignore religious instruction.
These schools cost more than the cost of the voucher. If a family cannot afford $2.50/day for lunch at a public school ($463 for a school year), how are they coming up with the remainder of the tuition?
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Right wing and Republican are not synonymous? Come on now you yourself can’t truly believe that. Many have been conditioned by the media to buy into the right vs left debacle. I’m sorry to tell you but it doesn’t exist. You are allowing yourself to be categorized and thus ultimately divided. There is no right vs left because in the end they are ALL politicians whom receive their financial backing by the SAME individuals. Big money buys both sides of the aisle so regardless what happens THEY win. Life is all about balance both conservative and liberal values depending on the issue at hand. For example, an individual may be liberal on social issues but conservative on economic ones. However, the powers that be have made it an all in or nothing designation. You are either liberal or a right wing nut as many like to say. I refuse to be identified simply as a conservative or a liberal. There is more to me than that. What we need in politics is balance and with the two party system which is really a one party system as described above what we are getting does not resemble balance in any fashion whatsoever.
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If you believe public schools are horrible and you live in this country, YOU failed. If the public wants public schools to be better, stand up for them! Stand with teachers, administrators and students to make the schools better. Teachers are limited in NC. No union, no bargaining but still fighting. The current NC administration is telling you education is broken when it isn’t and getting the public to believe this so they can replace the current system with their big business education model.
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Exactly: go into your local “failure” and roll up those sleeves. So disturbing how so many Americans nowadays feel like they must benefit from community, but not contribute to it.
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agree. agree.
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Real One–You are correct, but many people do recognize the damage that obama and other have done…. http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2014/01/08/common-core-part-1
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They recognize it deep in their hearts.However, many fail to acknowledge it because they voted for the stiff and it takes a lot of courage to admit you were wrong and ultimately duped. Especially if you voted for the phony twice. If you study politics and history enough you will realize that there hasn’t been a true President since JFK. The rest have been predetermined puppets paid for by the corporate elite.
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Funny how some state judges rule it unconstitutional and others don’t.
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Yes. Hmmmm. Curious.
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How can teachers advocate more for t/public schools? Is there a way to appeal this? Thanks to you Ms. Ravitch, I am only now beginning to understand the implications of some of these decisions. I am also now trying to pay closer attention to charter schools and all the other types of ‘reforms’ that you have shed light on in your book Reign of error. Please continue to empower us all through your work and your blog. I a. Desperately trying to learn more about the education system here in the U.S.
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HI Diane! Please take a look at my blog. I’ve shared some thoughts on Sandra Bland’s life and death and implications for teachers! http://thejadededucator.blogspot.com/2015/07/being-educated-and-black-can-get-you.html
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Yet another reason to hope that STATES are not given more authority to define how they will allocate federal funds, hold schools accountable, and determine what is taught and tested.
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Well, anti-puic school folks like that the DOE has made it so people detest what is going on in public schools (after Race to the Top). Helps the voucher and charter cause.
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PR Watch, “ALEC Admits School Vouchers are for Kids in Suburbia”, by Jonas Persson, July 22.
Persson about vouchers “…erode public schools and increase segregation based on race and economic standing”
In the excellent article, Persson excerpts from Milton Friedman’s 2006 speech to ALEC.
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The lead line in this post should be “MORE bad news from North Carolina.”
Even though you, Diane, and the NPE have acknowledged the horrible conditions of public ed in NC, I think you will be shocked by what you hear from local teachers when you visit next April. It’s far worse when you’re in the trenches in this land of fear and loathing.
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but do come on down for the conference! We’ll turn on the runnin’ water for ya and light up the privy and everything.
(hee hee)
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Public education is a civil right, a Constitutional amendment is a priority.
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You will want to email us the link to your work on Flickr.
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